Technology
The technologies behind Single Quantum solutions.
Operation principle of SNSPDs
Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors
The Single Quantum multi-channel SNSPD system combines high detection efficiency, high time resolution, low dark count rate, and a high count rate. It can detect single photons with higher than 90% efficiency over a broad spectral range and an ultra-high timing resolution of less than 15 ps.
The SNSPD consists of a thin film of superconducting material shaped into a meandering nanowire, maximizing surface area to collect the full output of an optical fiber while maintaining a single current path. Operated at 2.5 Kelvin, a constant current below the superconductor’s critical threshold is applied, and its nanoscale cross-section enables high sensitivity to single photons.
When a photon is absorbed, superconductivity is locally disrupted, redirecting the current to amplification electronics and generating a voltage pulse. Within tens of nanoseconds, the nanowire recovers its superconductivity, ready to detect the next photon.
Technology
Our single-pixel SNSPDs, operating within a range of 600 nm to 2 µm, deliver unparalleled detection efficiency and time resolution, making them ideal for quantum communication, cryptography, infrared fluorescence spectroscopy, laser ranging, and more.
Single Quantum developed multipixel detectors based on interleaved nanowires, with all the pixels running independently. Multipixel SNSPD systems can be used for imaging as well as for photon number resolving, or ultra-fast single photon detection.
Photon number resolving (PNR) detectors have the ability to distinguish the number of arriving photons. The multipixel approach with interleaved detectors is based on the parallel landing and readout of photons onto a detector array whose pixels are uniformly illuminated. With 4 pixels you can simultaneously detect up to 4 photons at the same time.
Single Quantum developed multipixel detectors based on interleaved nanowires, with all the pixels running independently. Because of their multipixel nature, the interleaved detectors are much faster: each pixel can reach full efficiency recovery after only 4 ns at 1550 nm.
Single Quantum has developed fast-gated SNSPDs that allows full efficiency restoration in less than 5 ns, with a gate window of 20 ns: the perfect choice for cutting-edge experiments which require rapid temporal filtering with flexible photon detection window.
Cryogenics
Single Quantum Eos is our flagship product, providing a comprehensive measurement solution, including
- an 8- or 24- channels closed-cycle cryostat
- a dedicated electronic driver
- a helium compressor
Single Quantum Eos R12 is our new compact SNSPD system, featuring:
- up to 12 detection channels
- compact dimensions of 130 mm x 610 mm x 438 mm (H x D x W)
- 19’’ rack mountable (3U in height)
Single Quantum provides a free-space coupling solution, Iris X. It comprises a cryostat with an optical window, which can host an SNSPD array of up to 48 pixels.
attocube IGLU is the newest product added to the fleet of He compressors you can choose from. It is compatible with Single Quantum Eos, Eos R12 and SQ Cam, and combined with Eos R12, IGLU provides the most compact rack-mountable solution on the market.
Optical couplings
Single-mode fibers stand out as optimal conduits for transmitting light signals with exceptional precision. The compact design of SNSPDs aligns seamlessly with the focused beam of a single-mode fiber, enabling efficient coupling. For certain wavelengths, it is possible to use polarization maintaining fibers (PM Fiber), an extra feature to ensure the maintenance of linearly-polarized light waves launched into the fiber.
Perfect for remote laser ranging and astronomy applications, our large-active-area SNSPDs seamlessly couple with 50μm and 28μm fiber core diameters, allowing the transmission of multiple modes through the fiber.
Single Quantum provides a free-space coupling solution, comprised of a cryostat with an optical window, which can host an SNSPD array of up to 36 pixels. This free space solution is engineered to offer low dark count rate even at telecom and short-wave infrared wavelengths, increasing the signal to noise ratio and dynamic range.
Accessories
Offering full detection efficiency restoration within nanoseconds, this option comes in a 2U rack-mountable module that can be easily integrated into your existing system.
Single Quantum Pulse 1200 is our new modular extension, designed to deliver ultra-low jitter measurements even at high count rates.
The TTL converter is a versatile add-on that translates the output from our SNSPDs into standard digital TTL signals, ensuring seamless integration with a variety of electronic systems.
The fastest detectors on the market
The time resolution of single photon detectors is characterized by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the variation in the temporal delay from the absorption of a photon to the generation of an output electrical pulse, which is defined as the timing jitter.
Single Quantum SNSPDs have demonstrated the lowest timing jitter on the market, achieved thanks to the cryogenic amplification.
A cryogenic amplifier, encased and mounted to the 40K stage of the cryostat, enables the SNSPDs to reach the highest single-to-noise ratio and thus the optimal timing jitter. A typical Single Quantum SNSPD with a cryogenic amplifier reaches <15 ps timing jitter.
Harness the power of SNSPDs
To tailor the optimal solution for you, our engineers will assist you, starting from understanding your needs and define the system specifications together with you.
