Dependence of Photon Detection Efficiency on Normal-State Sheet Resistance in Marginally Superconducting Films of NbN

Philipp Zolotov, Alexander Semenov, Alexander Divochiy, Gregory Goltsman, Nikita Romanov, T. M. Klapwijk

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We present an extensive set of data on nanowire-type superconducting single-photon detectors based on niobium-nitride (NbN) to establish the empirical correlation between performance and the normal-state resistance per square. We focus, in particular, on the bias current, compared to the expected depairing current, needed to achieve a near-unity detection efficiency for photon detection. The data are discussed within the context of a model in which the photon energy triggers the movement of vortices i.e. superconducting dissipation, followed by thermal runaway. Since the model is based on the non-equilibrium theory for conventional superconductors deviations may occur, because the efficient regime is found when NbN acts as a marginal superconductor in which long-range phase coherence is frustrated.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number9362289
    Number of pages5
    JournalIEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
    Volume31
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Keywords

    • superconducting photodetectors
    • Superconductivity
    • thin films

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