Single-photon detection with near unity efficiency, ultrahigh detection-rates, and ultra-high time resolution

• DOI: 10.1364/cleo_qels.2017.ff1e.1
• Publication Date: 2017-05-08T12:09:47Z
• Authors: Val Zwiller; Iman Esmaeil Zadeh; Johannes W.N. Los; Ronan B.M. Gourgues; Violette Steinmetz; Sergiy M. Dobrovo...; Sander N. Dorenbos
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy

Single-photon detectors with high efficiency, high time resolution, low dark counts and high photon detection-rates are vital for most demanding quantum optics experiments. Combining all performances in a single device has been challenging. Here, we demonstrate a broadband detector with efficiency higher than 92%, over 150 MHz photon detection-rate and dark counts below 130 Hz operated in a conventional Gifford-McMahon cryostat. Furthermore, using our custom made cryogenic amplifiers and optimized detector, we reach a record low jitter of 14.80 ps while maintaining high efficiency.