Attachment_1_NIST_Requirements.docx

NIST Requirements Document Superconducting Nanowire Detector System (SNDS)

I. Background The NIST group requesting this purchase conducts semiconductor quantum optics experiments quantum metrology and quantum information applications. Effects include crystal growth and fabrication of nanostructures that are often integrated into waveguides and cavities, and optical characterization of the fabricated structures. Weak signal spectroscopy at the single-photon level is an important characterization element.

II. Scope NIST requires one (1) Superconducting Nanowire Detector System (SNDS). This system will be used to make high-efficiency, low-detector jitter, low dark-count quantum optics measurements in support of NIST programs.

III. Minimum Requirements The system shall meet or exceed the minimum requirements identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) 0001: The Contractor shall provide one (1) Superconducting Nanowire Detector System (SNDS) that meets the following minimum specifications:

1. The SNDS shall contain a closed-cycle cryostat so that an operational base temperature of 2.5 K or lower can be maintained at the detectors. (Stronger consideration shall be given for a cryostat operating temperature at or below 1 K)

2. The minimum cooling power of the system shall be 0.1 W at 4 K.

3. Cool-down time from room temperature to operation shall be approximately 12 hours.

4. The system shall include 110 V or 208 V compressor power options, and water or air-cooled compressor cooling options at no extra cost.

5. The system shall include computer software to monitor and control the system functionality.

6. If a sorption system is used for cooling, for instance for temperatures below 2.5 K (see higher considerations below), it shall run for a minimum of 24 hours between regeneration cycles and must be capable to running automatically using field-tested software.

7. The cryostat shall contain a minimum of eight (8) slots for detectors, and shall have room for fiber coils (to lower dark count rates and for removing/re-attaching detectors) and low-temperature (cryogenic) amplifiers for the detectors.

8. The detector slots shall also be available for mounting and testing the customer’s devices. Mounting components and instructions shall be available on request. (Stronger consideration shall be given to detectors with slots in excess of 8, and/or larger internal working volume without cooling-rate compromise, and/or room for cryogenically cooled detectors)

9. Two superconducting nanowire detectors must be provided at approximately 925 nm with a bandwidth of 50 nm for efficiencies greater than 80 %, dark counts of less than or equal to 10 counts per second (cts), and a jitter equal to or less than 40 ps. (a) Stronger consider shall be given to a larger detector bandwidth while maintaining the same efficiency and dark count rate;

b) Stronger consideration shall be given for a detector jitter below 15 ps without compromise of the dark-count rate or efficiency;

c) Stronger consideration shall be given to detectors with efficiencies above 80% without jitter, bandwidth, or dark-count rate compromise.)

10. Two superconducting nanowire detectors must be provided, each covering the wavelength range of 1310 – 1550 nm (at least 75 % efficiency throughout this bandwidth). In this range, the dark counts must be less than 300 cts and the jitter must be less than 50 ps. (1) Stronger consider shall be given to a larger detector bandwidth while maintaining the same efficiency and dark count rate; 2) Stronger consideration shall be given for a detector jitter below 20 ps without compromise of the dark-count rate or efficiency3) Stronger consideration shall be given to detectors with efficiencies above 80% without jitter, bandwidth, or dark-count rate compromise.)

11. All detectors must be fiber-coupled external to the cryostat. At least 7.5 cm of additional fiber must be provided so that detectors can be removed and reinserted.

12. The two long-wavelength detectors shall have extra wrapped fiber internal to the cryostat to reduce dark counts.

13. Detector specifications (dark counts, efficiencies and jitter) shall be measured under the same operating conditions (current bias). General data shall be provided in response to the solicitation, while more specific data will be required later either before delivery or during acceptance (see below).

IV. Delivery Delivery shall be FOB DESTINATION and shall occur not later than (NLT) nine (9) months ARO.

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The contractor shall deliver the Superconducting Nanowire Detector System to:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology 100 Bureau Drive, Building 220 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640 V. Inspection and Acceptance In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated.

On site testing of the system shall include demonstration of single photon counting for all detectors using the system software. If the software features Hong-Oh-Mandel and Hanbury Brown – Twiss measurement, these software features should be demonstrated.

The Government will test, inspect, and accept the equipment onsite within two (2) weeks after the final training session. The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance, shall have the right to reject the system due to defects and/or nonconformance.

VI. Installation The system shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications no later than two (2) weeks after delivery. Installation, at a minimum, shall include uncrating/unpackaging of all equipment, rigging, set-up and hook-up of the system, demonstration of all specifications, and removal of trash.

VII. Training

The contractor shall conduct a training session for at NIST for a group of four (4) users. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting. The training may be completed at NIST immediately after installation, set-up and on-site measurements demonstrating that no damage or misalignment issues arose during transportation and installation, but shall be completed no later than three (3) weeks after installation.

VIII. Warranty The contractor shall warrant the entire system for a period of a minimum of one (1) year after the initial training session is completed or after 10,000 hours of use. This warranty shall allow for routine opening of the cryostat to change devices, including the customer’s own devices and shall be in accordance with terms in FAR 52.212-4

IX. Payment Schedule The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% Net-30 days after installation, set-up, acceptance and training of the system has been completed. Note that acceptance must be completed two weeks after the final training session.