skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: High-efficiency single-photon detectors

Abstract

Using correlated photon pairs produced via spontaneous parametric down-conversion, we have measured the absolute single-photon detection efficiencies and time responses of four detectors: two solid-state photomultipliers (SSPM's) manufactured by Rockwell International Corp., and two custom-modified single-photon counting modules (SSPM's) manufactured by EG G, Canada. The highest observed efficiencies were 70.9[plus minus]1.9% (with an SSPM, at a wavelength of 632 nm) and 76.4[plus minus]2.3% (with an SPCM, at 702 nm). We believe these to be the highest reported single-photon detection efficiencies in the visible spectrum; they are important for quantum cryptography and loophole-free tests of Bell's inequalities, as well as more prosaic applications such as photon correlation spectroscopy and velocimetry. We found that the time profile for coincidences between the SSPM and the SPCM consisted of a main peak with a 3.5-ns full width at half maximum (FWHM) preceded by a smaller peak by 11 ns. A similar time profile between two SPCM's displayed only one peak, with a 300-ps FWHM. Afterpulses were detected in the SPCM's at a level of less than 10[sup [minus]4] of the counting rate, with an exponential decay time constant of 4.5 [mu]s.

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
  2. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
  3. Rockwell International Corporation Science Center, 3370 Miraloma Avenue, Anaheim, California 92803 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7368946
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review A; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 48:2; Journal ID: ISSN 1050-2947
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; PHOTODETECTORS; EFFICIENCY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; COUNTING CIRCUITS; PHOTOMULTIPLIERS; PHOTONS; STATISTICS; TIMING PROPERTIES; BOSONS; ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EVALUATION; MASSLESS PARTICLES; MATHEMATICS; PHOTOTUBES; 426000* - Engineering- Components, Electron Devices & Circuits- (1990-); 440800 - Miscellaneous Instrumentation- (1990-)

Citation Formats

Kwiat, P G, Steinberg, A M, Chiao, R Y, Eberhard, P H, and Petroff, M D. High-efficiency single-photon detectors. United States: N. p., 1993. Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.48.R867.
Kwiat, P G, Steinberg, A M, Chiao, R Y, Eberhard, P H, & Petroff, M D. High-efficiency single-photon detectors. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.48.R867
Kwiat, P G, Steinberg, A M, Chiao, R Y, Eberhard, P H, and Petroff, M D. 1993. "High-efficiency single-photon detectors". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.48.R867.
@article{osti_7368946,
title = {High-efficiency single-photon detectors},
author = {Kwiat, P G and Steinberg, A M and Chiao, R Y and Eberhard, P H and Petroff, M D},
abstractNote = {Using correlated photon pairs produced via spontaneous parametric down-conversion, we have measured the absolute single-photon detection efficiencies and time responses of four detectors: two solid-state photomultipliers (SSPM's) manufactured by Rockwell International Corp., and two custom-modified single-photon counting modules (SSPM's) manufactured by EG G, Canada. The highest observed efficiencies were 70.9[plus minus]1.9% (with an SSPM, at a wavelength of 632 nm) and 76.4[plus minus]2.3% (with an SPCM, at 702 nm). We believe these to be the highest reported single-photon detection efficiencies in the visible spectrum; they are important for quantum cryptography and loophole-free tests of Bell's inequalities, as well as more prosaic applications such as photon correlation spectroscopy and velocimetry. We found that the time profile for coincidences between the SSPM and the SPCM consisted of a main peak with a 3.5-ns full width at half maximum (FWHM) preceded by a smaller peak by 11 ns. A similar time profile between two SPCM's displayed only one peak, with a 300-ps FWHM. Afterpulses were detected in the SPCM's at a level of less than 10[sup [minus]4] of the counting rate, with an exponential decay time constant of 4.5 [mu]s.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevA.48.R867},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7368946}, journal = {Physical Review A; (United States)},
issn = {1050-2947},
number = ,
volume = 48:2,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}