Low-noise single-photon counting superconducting nanowire detectors at infrared wavelengths up to 29 µm

Abstract

We report on the extension of the spectral sensitivity of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to a wavelength of 29 µm. To our knowledge, this represents the first demonstration of a single-photon counting detector at these long infrared wavelengths. We achieve saturated internal detection efficiency from 10 to 29 µm, while maintaining dark count rates below 0.1 counts per second. Extension of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to this spectral range provides low-noise and high-timing-resolution photon counting detection, effectively providing a new class of single-photon sensitive detectors for these wavelengths. These detectors are important for applications such as exoplanet spectroscopy, infrared astrophysics, physical chemistry, remote sensing, and direct dark-matter detection.