We report on the extension of the spectral sensitivity of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to a wavelength of 29 µm. To our knowledge, this represents the first demonstration of a ...single-photon counting detector at these long infrared wavelengths. We achieve saturated internal detection efficiency from 10 to 29 µm, while maintaining dark count rates below 0.1 counts per second. Extension of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors to this spectral range provides low-noise and high-timing-resolution photon counting detection, effectively providing a new class of single-photon sensitive detectors for these wavelengths. These detectors are important for applications such as exoplanet spectroscopy, infrared astrophysics, physical chemistry, remote sensing, and direct dark-matter detection.
DARKNESS Meeker, Seth R.; Mazin, Benjamin A.; Walter, Alex B. ...
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,
06/2018, Letnik:
130, Številka:
988
Journal Article
Recenzirano
We present DARKNESS (the DARK-speckle Near-infrared Energy-resolving Superconducting Spectrophotometer), the first of several planned integral field spectrographs to use optical/near-infrared ...Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) for high-contrast imaging. The photon counting and simultaneous low-resolution spectroscopy provided by MKIDs will enable real-time speckle control techniques and post-processing speckle suppression at frame rates capable of resolving the atmospheric speckles that currently limit high-contrast imaging from the ground. DARKNESS is now operational behind the PALM-3000 extreme adaptive optics system and the Stellar Double Coronagraph at Palomar Observatory. Here, we describe the motivation, design, and characterization of the instrument, early on-sky results, and future prospects.
We report on the extension of the spectral sensitivity of superconducting
nanowire single-photon detectors to a wavelength of 29 $\mu$m. This represents
the first demonstration of a time correlated ...single-photon counting detector at
these long infrared wavelengths. We achieve saturated internal detection
efficiency from 10 to 29 $\mu$m, whilst maintaining dark count rates below 0.1
counts per second. Extension of superconducting nanowire single-photon
detectors to this spectral range provides low noise and high timing resolution
photon counting detection, effectively providing a new class of single-photon
sensitive detector for these wavelengths. These detectors are important for
applications such as exoplanet spectroscopy, infrared astrophysics, physical
chemistry, remote sensing and direct dark-matter detection.
Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SNSPDs) are the highest-performing technology for time-resolved single-photon counting from the UV to the near-infrared. The recent discovery of ...single-photon sensitivity in micrometer-scale superconducting wires is a promising pathway to explore for large active area devices with application to dark matter searches and fundamental physics experiments. We present 8-pixel \(1 mm^2\) superconducting microwire single photon detectors (SMSPDs) with \(1\,\mathrm{\mu m}\)-wide wires fabricated from WSi and MoSi films of various stoichiometries using electron-beam and optical lithography. Devices made from all materials and fabrication techniques show saturated internal detection efficiency at 1064 nm in at least one pixel, and the best performing device made from silicon-rich WSi shows single-photon sensitivity in all 8 pixels and saturated internal detection efficiency in 6/8 pixels. This detector is the largest reported active-area SMSPD or SNSPD with near-IR sensitivity published to date, and the first report of an SMSPD array. By further optimizing the photolithography techniques presented in this work, a viable pathway exists to realize larger devices with \(cm^2\)-scale active area and beyond.
We present the direct imaging discovery of a low-mass companion to the nearby accelerating F star, HIP 5319, using SCExAO coupled with the CHARIS, VAMPIRES, and MEC instruments in addition to ...Keck/NIRC2 imaging. CHARIS \(JHK\) (1.1-2.4 \(\mu\)m) spectroscopic data combined with VAMPIRES 750 nm, MEC \(Y\), and NIRC2 \(L_{\rm p}\) photometry is best matched by an M3--M7 object with an effective temperature of T=3200 K and surface gravity log(\(g\))=5.5. Using the relative astrometry for HIP 5319 B from CHARIS and NIRC2 and absolute astrometry for the primary from \(Gaia\) and \(Hipparcos\) and adopting a log-normal prior assumption for the companion mass, we measure a dynamical mass for HIP 5319 B of \(31^{+35}_{-11}M_{\rm J}\), a semimajor axis of \(18.6^{+10}_{-4.1}\) au, an inclination of \(69.4^{+5.6}_{-15}\) degrees, and an eccentricity of \(0.42^{+0.39}_{-0.29}\). However, using an alternate prior for our dynamical model yields a much higher mass of 128\(^{+127}_{-88}M_{\rm J}\). Using data taken with the LCOGT NRES instrument we also show that the primary HIP 5319 A is a single star in contrast to previous characterizations of the system as a spectroscopic binary. This work underscores the importance of assumed priors in dynamical models for companions detected with imaging and astrometry and the need to have an updated inventory of system measurements.
We report on the design and performance of Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) sensitive to single photons in the optical to near-infrared range using hafnium as the sensor material. Our ...test device had a superconducting transition temperature of 395 mK and a room temperature normal state resistivity of 97 \(\mu \Omega\) cm with an RRR = 1.6. Resonators on the device displayed internal quality factors of around 200,000. Similar to the analysis of MKIDs made from other highly resistive superconductors, we find that modeling the temperature response of the detector requires an extra broadening parameter in the superconducting density of states. Finally, we show that this material and design is compatible with a full-array fabrication process which resulted in pixels with decay times of about 40 \(\mu\)s and resolving powers of ~9 at 800 nm.
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