Saturated single-photon detection up to 5 μm in the mid-infrared using NbN superconducting microstrip detectors

Superconductivity 2026 Open access

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Authors: Yu-Ze Wang, Wei-Jun Zhang, Xiao-Qing Zheng, J. F. Hu, Dong-Wei Chu, Hui Zhou, Xiaofu Zhang, Huiqin Yu, Qian Gong, Chunfang Cao, Pu-Sheng Yuan, Wen-Shuo Yu
+4 more Xiao-Yu Liu, Ling Wu, Zhen Wang, Li-Xing You
DOI: 10.1016/j.supcon.2026.100232
Cited by: 1
References: 34

Abstract

We demonstrate a mid-infrared superconducting microstrip single-photon detector (SMSPD) based on a 5 nm thick, 0.92-μm wide, and 50 μm long NbN microbridge. The detection sensitivity is enhanced via He + ion irradiation with a high fluence of 1×10 17 ions/cm 2 . The SMSPD exhibits saturated internal detection efficiency over a broad spectral range from 400 nm to 5 μm at 0.32 K, with a minimum timing jitter of 28 ps (at 1064 nm). The detection current scales with photon energy as α ≈ –0.5, indicating vortex-assisted hotspot formation as the underlying detection mechanism.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Quantum Information and Cryptography Mechanical and Optical Resonators Advanced Optical Sensing Technologies

Publication details

Journal / source
Superconductivity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
17
Pages
100232–100232
Publication date
14 January 2026
Language
EN