Open AccessPhoton counting LIDAR at 23µm wavelength with superconducting nanowires
Author(s) -
Gregor G. Taylor,
D. Morozov,
Nathan R. Gemmell,
Kleanthis Erotokritou,
Shigehito Miki,
Hirotaka Terai,
Robert H. Hadfield
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.038147
Subject(s) - photon counting , lidar , detector , optics , optical parametric oscillator , wavelength , nanowire , optoelectronics , absorption (acoustics) , laser , photon , materials science , physics
In this work, we show a proof-of-principle benchtop single-photon light detection and ranging (LIDAR) depth imager at 2.3µm, utilizing superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). We fabricate and fiber-couple SNSPDs to exhibit enhanced photon counting performance in the mid-infrared. We present characterization results using an optical parametric oscillator source and deploy these detectors in a scanning LIDAR setup at 2.3µm wavelength. This demonstrates the viability of these detectors for future free-space photon counting applications in the mid-infrared where atmospheric absorption and background solar flux are low.