Superconducting photon detector
First Claim
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1. A photon detector, comprising:
- a substrate;
a first waveguide configured to guide photons from a photon source, the first waveguide having a first linear coupling region and respective portions on each side of the first linear coupling region, wherein the first linear coupling region has a first length;
a second waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a second linear coupling region that is optically-coupled to the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide, wherein the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide is a first distance from the second waveguide, and the respective portions of the first waveguide on each side of the first linear coupling region are further from the second waveguide than the first linear coupling region; and
a superconducting detector component configured to detect photons within the second waveguide, the superconducting detector component having a linear detector portion positioned adjacent to, and optically-coupled with, the second linear coupling region, wherein the linear detector portion has a second length that is longer than the first length, and the linear detecting portion spans the second linear coupling region;
wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide are integrated on the substrate.
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Abstract
The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating superconducting photon detectors. In one aspect, a photon detector includes: (1) a first waveguide configured to guide photons from a photon source; (2) a second waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first waveguide and optically-coupled to the first waveguide; and (3) a superconducting component positioned adjacent to the second waveguide and configured to detect photons within the second waveguide.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A photon detector, comprising:
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a substrate; a first waveguide configured to guide photons from a photon source, the first waveguide having a first linear coupling region and respective portions on each side of the first linear coupling region, wherein the first linear coupling region has a first length; a second waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first waveguide, the second waveguide having a second linear coupling region that is optically-coupled to the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide, wherein the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide is a first distance from the second waveguide, and the respective portions of the first waveguide on each side of the first linear coupling region are further from the second waveguide than the first linear coupling region; and a superconducting detector component configured to detect photons within the second waveguide, the superconducting detector component having a linear detector portion positioned adjacent to, and optically-coupled with, the second linear coupling region, wherein the linear detector portion has a second length that is longer than the first length, and the linear detecting portion spans the second linear coupling region; wherein the first waveguide and the second waveguide are integrated on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting photons, the method comprising:
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receiving one or more photons from a photon source; directing the one or more photons through a first waveguide wherein the first waveguide has a first linear coupling region and respective portions on each side of the first linear coupling region; transferring at least one photon of the one or more photons from the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide to a second linear coupling region of a second waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first waveguide, wherein the first linear coupling region has a first length, the first waveguide and the second waveguide are integrated on a single substrate, the first linear coupling region of the first waveguide is a first distance from the second waveguide, and the respective portions of the first waveguide on each side of the first linear coupling region are further from the second waveguide than the first linear coupling region; and detecting the at least one transferred photon within the second waveguide using a photon sensor having a linear detecting portion positioned adjacent to the second linear coupling region, wherein the linear detecting portion has a second length that is longer than the first length, and the linear detecting portion spans the second linear coupling region. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A directional coupler device, comprising:
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a substrate; a first photonic waveguide including a first region and a second region that is distinct from and mutually exclusive to the first region of the first photonic waveguide, wherein the first region of the first photonic waveguide has a linear shape with a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end of the first region of the first photonic waveguide; and wherein the first region of the first photonic waveguide is configured to receive one or more photons travelling from the first end of the first region of the first photonic waveguide toward the second end of the first region of the first photonic waveguide; a second photonic waveguide that is distinct and separate from the first photonic waveguide, the second photonic waveguide including a first region and a second region that is distinct from and mutually exclusive to the first region of the second photonic waveguide; wherein the first region of the second photonic waveguide is linear in shape and positioned adjacent to the first region of the first photonic waveguide; wherein the first region of the second photonic waveguide is a first distance from the first photonic waveguide, and the second region of the second photonic waveguide is a second distance to the first photonic waveguide, that is greater than the first distance; wherein the first region of the second photonic waveguide has a first end and a second end that is opposite to the first end of the first region of the second photonic waveguide; and whereby at least a subset of the one or more photons transmitted from the first end of the first region of the first photonic waveguide toward the second end of the first region of the first photonic waveguide is transferred to the second photonic waveguide; and a superconducting detector component having a first portion and a second portion that is distinct from and mutually exclusive to the first portion of the superconducting detector component; wherein the first portion of the superconducting detector component is linear in shape and positioned adjacent to the first region of the second photonic waveguide; wherein the first portion of the superconducting detector component spans the first region of the second photonic waveguide; and whereby at least a portion of the first portion of the superconducting detector component transitions from a superconducting state to a non-superconducting state in response to one or more incident photons transmitted from the first photonic waveguide; wherein the first photonic waveguide and the second photonic waveguide are integrated on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification