NIST physicists overcome size limits of quantum light sensors

Credit: Natasha Hanacek/NIST · nist.gov National Institute of Standards and Technology physicists have created superconducting nanowire detectors more than 100 times wider than current single-photon detectors, overcoming longstanding size limitations. These improved detectors, reaching a width of 0.1 millimeters, simplify fabrication and unlock greater performance potential for capturing individual photons. Kristen Parzuchowski, a postdoctoral researcher at NIST, emphasized the importance of detecting these particles for applications ranging from biomedical imaging to deep-space communication. The larger detectors promise more effective arrays to benefit fields reliant on analyzing faint light signals. Superconducting nanowire…