SHAMROCK (DFM.AD005.218)

Thematic area

Physical sciences and technologies of matter

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute for photonics and nanotechnologies (IFN)

Project manager

ROBERTO LEONI
Phone number: 0641522237
Email: roberto.leoni@cnr.it

Abstract

The research goal of this proposal is to realize a Superconductive MiR phOton Counter
(ShaMROCk) that outclasses all the existing technologies in terms of SDE, providing a
solid platform for additional functionalities. SNSPDs realized so farsu ffered from the
top-coupling approach that limits the interaction length between photons and the
detector active area since the large diffraction limited mode of MIR light and the lack of
MIR optical cavities. On the other side, in ShaMROCk I intend to integrate SNSPDs on top
of MIR waveguides, realized using silicon carbide. All the light propagating inside the
waveguide, evanescently coupled to the active are of the detector, can be absorbed in
this way. The SDE is therefore limited by the efficiency with which light is coupled from
a fiber to a waveguide. Preliminary results shows that ShaMROCk could provide a SDE
twenty times higher than top-coupling SNSPD and two order of magnitude higher than
other pursued technologies. This project will pave the way for MIR quantum
measurements.

Start date of activity

01/06/2018

Keywords

Photodetectors, Quantum technology and quantum devices, Superconductivity

Last update: 25/08/2025