Characterization and Active Control of Position-Dependent Timing Dynamics in Superconducting Strip Detectors

arXiv:2609.28897v1 Announce Type: cross Abstract: Superconducting strip single-photon detectors (SSPDs) have emerged as scalable, wide-strip variants of traditional nanowire counterparts. Despite practical advantages including improved optical fill factors and enhanced signal-to-noise ratios the fundamental detection physics governing these micro-scale geometries remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the underlying photoresponse of a 20 um-wide tungsten silicide SSPD, demonstrating a slew-rate-corrected timing jitter of 13.2 ps at 532 nm and 20.5 ps at 1550 nm, alongside saturated internal detection efficiency up to 1550 nm. Using focused free-space optical scanning, we reveal that detector timing jitter is strongly influenced by a spatially dependent slew rate between edge and center absorption events. To mitigate this impact, we utilize a parallel superconducting rail architecture to actively redistribute supercurrent. This in-situ tuning minimizes the latency mismatch and mitigates thermally activated intrinsic dark counts, extending the device's ability to operate at higher temperatures. Finally, comparing these dynamics with time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) modeling elucidates the physical origins of the position-dependent photoresponse, highlighting how superconducting rails or specialized readout electronics can mitigate negative impacts on timing jitter.

Abstract:Superconducting strip single-photon detectors (SSPDs) have emerged as scalable, wide-strip variants of traditional nanowire counterparts. Despite practical advantages including improved optical fill factors and enhanced signal-to-noise ratios the fundamental detection physics governing these micro-scale geometries remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the underlying photoresponse of a 20 um-wide tungsten silicide SSPD, demonstrating a slew-rate-corrected timing jitter of 13.2 ps at 532 nm and 20.5 ps at 1550 nm, alongside saturated internal detection efficiency up to 1550 nm. Using focused free-space optical scanning, we reveal that detector timing jitter is strongly influenced by a spatially dependent slew rate between edge and center absorption events. To mitigate this impact, we utilize a parallel superconducting rail architecture to actively redistribute supercurrent. This in-situ tuning minimizes the latency mismatch and mitigates thermally activated intrinsic dark counts, extending the device's ability to operate at higher temperatures. Finally, comparing these dynamics with time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) modeling elucidates the physical origins of the position-dependent photoresponse, highlighting how superconducting rails or specialized readout electronics can mitigate negative impacts on timing jitter.

Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det); Applied Physics (physics.app-ph); Optics (physics.optics); Quantum Physics (quant-ph)

arXiv:2609.28897 [physics.ins-det]

(or arXiv:2609.28897v1 [physics.ins-det] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2609.28897 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

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Characterization and Active Control of Position-Dependent Timing Dynamics in Superconducting Strip Detectors

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