Superconducting single photon detector
US6812464B1 · kind B1 · utility
65Cited by
14References
4Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/0411
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A single photon detector includes a superconductor strip biased near its critical current. The superconductor strip provides a discernible output signal upon absorption of a single incident photon. In one example, the superconductor is a strip of NbN (niobium nitride). In another example, the superconductor strip meanders to increase its probability of receiving a photon from a light source. The single-photon detector is suitable for a variety of applications including free-space and satellite communications, quantum communications, quantum cryptography, weak luminescence, and semiconductor device testing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.