The potential and challenges of time-resolved single-photon detection based on current-carrying superconducting nanowires

Abstract

Abstract Superconducting nanowire-based devices are being hailed as promising single-photon detectors that exhibit excellent combined properties. In particular, their unrivalled time-resolution ability has made these devices potentially revolutionary for the commercial ultrafast single-photon measurement and analysis fields. In this review, we present a detailed summary of the influencing factors and the intrinsic physical mechanism of the temporal resolution in superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). We elaborate on the two internal components of temporal resolution, the time response and time jitter, as well as on many measurement methods and device structure modifications attempted to exclude external interference, thus approaching the ultimate limits of time-resolved single photon detection. The investigation of the temporal resolution of SNSPDs not only sheds light on the intrinsic physical mechanism but also contributes to time-related practical engineering applications.