Low temperature performance of free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon negative feedback avalanche diodes

Boris Korzh; Hugo Zbinden

doi:10.1117/12.2050487

4 June 2014 Low temperature performance of free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon negative feedback avalanche diodes

Boris Korzh, Hugo Zbinden

Proceedings Volume 9114, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques VIII; 91140O (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050487
Event: SPIE Sensing Technology + Applications, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

Free-running single photon detectors at telecom wavelengths are attractive for many tasks in quantum optics. However, until recently, the convenient and compact InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes did not operate with satisfactory performance in this regime due to high dark count rates and afterpulsing effects. Recent development of negative feedback avalanche diodes (NFADs) enabled very fast passive quenching of the avalanche current, effectively reducing the afterpulse probability and subsequently allowing free-running operation. Here, we present analysis of NFAD operation at low temperatures, down to 163 K, which reveals a significant reduction of the dark count rate. We succeeded in developing a compact single photon detection system with a dark count rate of ~1 cps at 10% detection efficiency. To ensure that the NFAD is in a well-defined initial condition during the characterization of the detection efficiency and afterpulsing, we use a recently developed FPGA based test procedure suitable for free-running detectors. To demonstrate the performance of the detector in a real-world application we integrate it into a 1.25 GHz clocked quantum key distribution system. An optimization of the detector temperature allowed secret key distribution in the presence of more than 30 dB of loss in the quantum channel.

Citation Download Citation

Boris Korzh and Hugo Zbinden "Low temperature performance of free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon negative feedback avalanche diodes", Proc. SPIE 9114, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques VIII, 91140O (4 June 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050487

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available