Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector Specs.pdf

Specifications for Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector (SNSPD) with Integrated Time-

Correlated Photon Counter (TCSPC):

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has a requirement for a Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon

Detector (SNSPD) with Integrated Time-Correlated Photon Counter (TCSPC) that is to be utilized for single photon detection in conjunction with a Princeton Instruments triple spectrometer and WiTec

Instruments correlative micro-spectroscopy system that already exists at NRL.

1. The SNSPD system shall have 4 detection channels with distinct SNSPDs.

2. Each of the 4 detection channels shall have a distinct/dedicated, self-aligned, single-mode FC/PC optic coupling that allows light to be coupled into and out of the SNSPD elements.

3. Two of the SNSPDs shall have peak efficiency at a wavelength of 1550 nm (referred to as 1550 nm SPSPD channels hereafter) and two shall have peak efficiency at a wavelength of 1310 nm

(referred to as 1310 nm SNSPD channels hereafter).

4. The 1550 nm SNSPD channels shall have a detection efficiency > 85% at a wavelength of 1550 nm when measured at 1 MHz photon flux.

5. The 1310 nm SNSPD channels shall have a detection > 85% at 1310 nm when measured at 1

MHz photon flux.

6. The timing jitter on the 1550 nm SNSPD channels shall be < 25 ps when measured at 100 kHz count rate with a pulsed laser and an oscilloscope.

7. The timing jitter on the 1310 nm SNSPD channels shall be <20 ps measured at 100 kHz count rate with a pulsed laser and an oscilloscope.

8. The dark count rate for the 1550 nm SNSPD channels shall be ≤ 300 Hz and shall be controlled by the driver software.

9. The dark count rate for the 1310 nm SNSPD channels shall be ≤ 100 Hz and shall be controlled by the driver software.

10. The dead time for the 1550 nm SNSPD channels shall be ≤ 30 ns.

11. The dead time for the 1310 nm SNSPD channels shall be ≤ 25 ns.

12. The maximum count rate for the 1550 nm SNSPD channels shall be ≥ 50 MHz.

13. The maximum count rate for the 1310 nm optimized detectors shall be ≥ 30 MHz.

14. The output pulse height for the 1550 nm optimized detectors shall be ≥ 200 mV.

15. The output pulse height for the 1310 nm optimized detectors shall be ≥ 200 mV.

16. The detector shall have no after-pulsing.

17. All 4 SNSPD detector elements shall be integrated into a sealed closed-cycle cryostat that is charged with high-purity helium gas.

18. The SNSPD system shall include all hardware required to operate the detector system including:

helium compressor, electronic driver, time-correlated single photon counter (TCSPC) and software.

19. The system shall have an intuitive user interface.

20. The system shall be able to be upgraded to at least 8 total detectors in the same cryostat.

21. The cryostat dimensions shall not be larger than 24 cm x 34 cm x 59 cm.

22. The system shall be a turn-key system.

23. The power supply electronics shall be will be 100-240V, 47-63 Hz.

24. The SNSPD system electronic interface shall be USB.

25. The SNSPD system electronics output will be SMA.

26. The helium compressor shall be a water-cooled compressor and shall not be larger than 50.4 cm x 43 cm x 48.5 cm

27. The helium compressor shall not consume helium.

28. The SNSPD system shall be able to the operated with continuous operation > 10,000 hours without any maintenance.

29. The SNSPD system shall also include an integrated time-correlated photon counter (TCSPC).

30. The TCSPC shall have 4 stop channels and 1 start channel.

31. The TCSPC shall have jitter values of < 6.4 ps RMS on four input channels, a digital resolution of 1 ps, and a sustained max event rate up to 25 million counts per second per channel.

32. The TCSPC shall be capable of receiving LVTTL and NIM trigger input signals between -2V and

+3V.

33. The TCSPC shall include software that allow virtual channel and filtering.

34. The TCSPC shall have SMA input connectors and USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connection to a PC.

35. The TCPC shall come with the appropriate software for it to be integrated with the SNSPD.

36. The size of the TCSPC shall not be larger than 44 cm x 30 cm x 5 cm

37. The quote shall include shipping, customs, freight, and installation of the whole system including the detector and the TCSPC (see more details below).

Installation and Training

The price of the Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detector (SNSPD) with integrated

Time-Correlated Photon Counter (TCSPC), must include delivery of the instrument to the U.S. Naval

Research Laboratory in Washington, DC; installation; demonstration; and training.

The on-site installation should be carried out by a qualified engineer. The installation should include an on-site validation of specified performance and training of the final users at the Naval

Research Laboratory.

Documentation and Warranty

a. A full set of all written documentation customarily provided to the public with a commercial item shall be provided. This shall include user manual(s) or equivalent as well as copies of any software, and any manuals for the software included with the system, if customarily provided. This documentation should be received by NRL with the system hardware unless other arrangements are agreed to by the authorized Government representative. In addition to the above documentation, which is customarily provided.

b. The contractor shall offer the Government at least the same warranty terms, including offers of extended warranties, offered to the general public in customary commercial practice. These warranty terms must be included in the system price. The period of the warranty shall begin upon acceptance.