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A fan-out circuit is a basic block for scaling up digital circuits for overcoming the limited driving capability of a single logic gate. It is particularly important for superconducting digital circuits as the driving power is typically weak for having high energy efficiency. Here, we design and fabricate a fan-out circuit for a superconducting nanowire cryotron (nTron) digital circuit. A classic splitter tree architecture is adopted. To transmit switching signal and avoid crosstalk among nTrons, we introduced an “R–L–R” interface circuit. Experimentally, a two-stage splitter tree of a fan-out number of four was demonstrated. Correct operation was observed with a minimum bit error rate (BER) of 10−6. The bias margin was 10% at BER of 10−4. The average time jitter was 82 ps. Moreover, crosstalk was not observed. Based on these results, we envision that the fan-out circuit can be used in future development of superconducting-nanowire-based circuits.

Multilayer superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have exhibited several advantages, such as increased detection efficiency, reduced polarization sensitivity, and scaling up to large arrays. However, monolithic fabrication of such multilayer devices is challenging. In this work, a hybrid integration method has been introduced by etching SNSPDs into the membrane microchips, followed by the pick and place transferring process. This method has been verified by stacking two SNSPDs orthogonally. Both detectors show near saturated detection efficiencies and low timing jitters. Furthermore, thermal coupling effects have been observed between the two SNSPDs. The photon detection pulses from either detector can trigger the other one almost deterministically with a latency of several nanoseconds. This method offers a flexible way to fabricate multilayer SNSPDs or integrate them with other heterogeneous devices.

Photon number resolving (PNR) is an important capacity for detectors working in quantum and classical applications. Although a conventional superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) is not a PNR detector, by arranging nanowires in a series array and multiplexing photons over space, such series PNR-SNSPD can gain quasi-PNR capacity. However, the accuracy and maximum resolved photon number are both limited by the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio of the output pulses. Here, we introduce a matched filter, which is an optimal filter in terms of SNR for SNSPD pulses. Experimentally, compared to conventional readout using a room-temperature amplifier, the normalized spacing between pulse amplitudes from adjacent photon number detections increased by a maximum factor of 2.1 after the matched filter. Combining with a cryogenic amplifier to increase SNR further, such spacing increased by a maximum factor of 5.3. In contrast to a low pass filter, the matched filter gave better SNRs while maintaining good timing jitters. Minimum timing jitter of 55 ps was obtained experimentally. Our results suggest that the matched filter is a useful tool for improving the performance of the series PNR-SNSPD and the maximum resolved photon number can be expected to reach 65 or even large.

Terahertz (THz) photonic waveguides are of great importance in THz integrated technology, especially for versatile signal processing. However, in THz photonics, very few fundamental “building blocks” equivalent to those used in muti-functional electronics circuits exist. This study proposes a photonics-inspired micro-ring whispering gallery mode resonator (WGMR) waveguide with a standard waveguide-compatible package on silicon platform. A gradual taper is integrated on the same chip to improve the coupling efficiency and reduce transmission loss. The packaged WGMR waveguide with an operating range of 0.360 to 0.440 THz had a maximum measured extinction ratio of 32 dB at 0.390 THz, with a Q factor of 385 and an insertion loss of 2.6 dB. The compact and standard waveguide-compatible packaged WGMR can easily be integrated into practical terahertz application systems for THz signal processing and as a tool for the study of fundamental THz science.

© 2018 Author(s). To analyze the switching dynamics and output performance of a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD), the nanowire is usually modelled as an inductor in series with a time-varying resistor induced by the absorption of a photon. Our recent experimental results show that, due to the effect of kinetic inductance, for a SNSPD made of a nanowire of sufficient length, its geometrical length can be comparable to or even longer than the effective wavelength of frequencies contained in the output pulse. In other words, a superconducting nanowire can behave as a distributed transmission line so that the readout pulse depends on the photon detection location and the transmission line properties of the nanowire. Here, we develop a distributed model for a superconducting nanowire and apply it to simulate the output performance of a long nanowire designed into a coplanar waveguide. We compare this coplanar waveguide geometry to a conventional meander nanowire geometry. The simulation results agree well with our experimental observations. With this distributed model, we discuss the importance of microwave design of a nanowire and how impedance matching can affect the output pulse shape. We also discuss how the distributed model affects the growth and decay of the photon-triggered resistive hotspot.

Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) promise to combine near-unity quantum efficiency with >100 megacounts per second rates, picosecond timing jitter, and sensitivity ranging from x-ray to mid-infrared wavelengths. However, this promise is not yet fulfilled, as superior performance in all metrics is yet to be combined into one device. The highest single-pixel detection efficiency and the widest bias windows for saturated quantum efficiency have been achieved in SNSPDs based on amorphous materials, while the lowest timing jitter and highest counting rates were demonstrated in devices made from polycrystalline materials. Broadly speaking, the amorphous superconductors that have been used to make SNSPDs have higher resistivities and lower critical temperature (Tc) values than typical polycrystalline materials. Here, we demonstrate a method of preparing niobium nitride (NbN) that has lower-than-typical superconducting transition temperature and higher-than-typical resistivity. As we will ...