Interception-proof single-photon detector device for detecting an optical signal

US12320698B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PIXEL PHOTONICS GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Fabian BEUTEL · Münster, DE
• Wolfram Pernice · Münster, DE
• Nicolai Walter · Münster, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 28, 2022
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2025
• Expiry date: Jul 28, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L9/0852
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention relates to a single-photon detector device (10) for detecting an optical signal, comprising an optical waveguide (12) and at least two nanowires (16, 18). The optical waveguide (12) is designed to guide the optical signal along an optical axis (14), wherein the at least two nanowires (16, 18) are arranged along the optical axis (14) relative thereto such that at least a second nanowire (18) is arranged in front of a first nanowire (16) with respect to the optical axis (14), wherein the at least two nanowires (16, 18) are designed to be superconductive at a specified temperature and, in the superconductive state, to generate an output signal when an intensity threshold of the optical signal is exceeded, and the at least two nanowires (16, 18) are designed so as to have different intensity thresholds. The invention additionally relates to the use of the aforementioned single-photon detector device for detecting an attack during a signal transmission encrypted using a quantum key distribution.