Work

Phonon-Trapping-Enhanced Energy Resolution in Superconducting Single-Photon Detectors

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: A pixel that can count individual photons and resolve each photon's color has been a dream for astronomers and biophysicists. Dream no longer! The authors realize such detectors using superconducting microwave resonators. The team experimentally shows that spectral resolving power is strongly limited by photon energy escaping through phonon losses to the bath, early in the detection process. With this insight, they use a thin membrane to demonstrate resolving power improved by a factor of 2.5, paving the way to reaching the fundamental limit in the future.

Source: Physical Review Applied

DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.16.034051

Authors: Pieter J. de Visser, Steven A.H. de Rooij, Vignesh Murugesan, David J. Thoen, Jochem J.A. Baselmans

Institutions: Space Research Organisation Netherlands, Delft University of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Superconducting and THz Device Technology

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, European Research Council

Awards: G2013534118, G3380211299, G3930980220, Measuring the atmosphere of Earth-like planets with superconducting, energy resolving detectors, Energy-resolving single photon detectors for broadband optical imaging spectroscopy