Multi-color photon detection with a single superconducting transition-edge sensor

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 1054; p. 168408
• Main Authors: Li, Peizhan, Zhong, Jiaqiang, Zhang, Wen, Wang, Zheng, Zhou, Kangmin, Miao, Wei, Ren, Yuan, Li, Jing, Yao, Qijun, Shi, Shengcai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Single-photon detection; Transition-edge sensor; Wavelength resolution; Transition-edge sensor; Single-photon detection; Wavelength resolution
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168408

Optical transition-edge sensors (TESs) with high detection efficiency and energy resolution are attractive to applications such as quantum information, astronomy, and biological spectral imaging. In this work, we developed a titanium-based TES with an energy resolution of 0.24 eV at 1520 nm, i.e., a wavelength resolution of 64 nm at 500 nm, aiming at the application of optical/infrared spectrometers without any wavelength multiplexing components. The TES is embedded in an optical cavity consisting of dielectric mirror and antireflection coating, which makes it detect single-photons with no low-energy tails. The dynamic range, extended by calibration with a quadratic function, covers the wavelength range of 400–1600 nm.