Absolute efficiency and time-response measurement of single-photon detectors

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Applied Optics; (United States)

OSTI ID:5084223

Petroff, M D ^[1]; Kwiat, P G ^[2]; Steinberg, A M; Chiao, R Y ^[3]; Eberhard, P H ^[4]

---

1. Rockwell International Corporation Science Center, 3370 Miraloma Avenue, Anaheim, California 92803 (United States)
2. Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States) Institut fuer Experimentalphysik, Universitaet Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck (Austria)
3. Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
4. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

Using correlated photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion, we have measured both the absolute quantum efficiencies and the time responses of four single-photon detectors. Efficiencies as high as (76.4 [plus minus] 2.3)% (at 702 nm) were seen, which to our knowledge are the highest reported single-photon detection efficiencies. An auxiliary retroreflection mirror was found to increase the net detection efficiency by as much as a factor of 1.19. The narrowest time profile for coincidences between two detectors displays a peak with 300 ps FWHM. We also investigated the presence of afterpulses and the effects of saturation and varying device parameters.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5084223
• Journal Information: Applied Optics; (United States), Vol. 33:10; ISSN 0003-6935
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
PHOTODETECTORS
QUANTUM EFFICIENCY
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PHOTODIODES
EFFICIENCY
PHOTOTUBES
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
440600* - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)