Photon number-resolving aluminum kinetic inductance detectors

X. Dai; H. Wang; Y. Wang; Z. Mai; Z. Shi; Y.-F. Wang; H. Jia; J. Liu; Q. He; M. Dai; P. Ouyang; Y. Chai; L.-F. Wei; L. Zhang; Y. Zhong; W. Guo; S. Liu; D. Yu

doi:10.1063/5.0234649

Photon number-resolving aluminum kinetic inductance detectors

X X. Dai H H. Wang Y Y. Wang Z Z. Mai (Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,) Z Z. Shi (Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,) Y Y.-F. Wang (Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,) H H. Jia J J. Liu Q Q. He (Information Quantum Technology Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 3 , Chengdu 610031,) M M. Dai (Information Quantum Technology Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 3 , Chengdu 610031,) P P. Ouyang (Information Quantum Technology Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 3 , Chengdu 610031,) Y Y. Chai (Information Quantum Technology Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 3 , Chengdu 610031,) L L.-F. Wei (Information Quantum Technology Laboratory, School of Information Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 3 , Chengdu 610031,) L L. Zhang Y Y. Zhong W W. Guo S S. Liu D D. Yu

Abstract

We study the multi-photon energy resolution and demonstrate photon counting up to about 30 photons at near-infrared wavelengths in a kinetic inductance detector made from aluminum (Al) film. The detector has a lumped-element design comprising a large interdigitated capacitor in parallel with a narrow inductive strip. A fiber-coupled lens is used to focus the light onto the inductive absorber to minimize photon scattering. Detectors with different designs and film thicknesses are studied. From the histogram of the optimally filtered multi-photon response pulse height, we find that the square of the energy resolution of the n-photon peak ΔEn2 increases linearly with the absorbed photon energy nhν. The detector made from a thicker Al film has a smaller slope of ΔEn2 with nhν, suggesting lower phonon loss in a thicker absorber. We also discuss other factors that limit the energy resolution and maximum resolvable photon number, including the dark noise and position-dependent response.

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Article Details

Journal Applied Physics Letters

Volume / Issue Vol. 126, Issue 1

Published January 06, 2025

DOI 10.1063/5.0234649

ISSN 0003-6951

Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (18)

X

X. Dai

H

H. Wang

Y

Y. Wang

Z

Z. Mai

Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,

Z

Z. Shi

Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,

Y

Y.-F. Wang

Quantum Optoelectronics Laboratory, School of Physical Science and Technology, Southwest Jiaotong University 1 , Chengdu 610031,

H

H. Jia

J

J. Liu

Q

Q. He