Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
2009-01-30
Eur. Phys. J. - Appl. Phys. 47, 10701 (2009)
Physics
Optics
15 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Journal of Applied Physics
Scientific paper
10.1051/epjap/2009087
We measured the single-photon detection efficiency of NbN superconducting single photon detectors as a function of the polarization state of the incident light for different wavelengths in the range from 488 nm to 1550 nm. The polarization contrast varies from ~5% at 488 nm to ~30% at 1550 nm, in good agreement with numerical calculations. We use an optical-impedance model to describe the absorption for polarization parallel to the wires of the detector. For lossy NbN films, the absorption can be kept constant by keeping the product of layer thickness and filling factor constant. As a consequence, we find that the maximum possible absorption is independent of filling factor. By illuminating the detector through the substrate, an absorption efficiency of ~70% can be reached for a detector on Si or GaAs, without the need for an optical cavity.
Braakman F. R.
de Dood Michiel J. A.
Dorenbos Sanders N.
Driessen E. F. C.
Reiger E. M.
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