“We know this detector will be useful for quantum communication, but we also hope that it could enable other applications that we haven’t considered.”Ĭaption: Matthew Shaw, leader of the research team, inspects a PEACOQ detector mounted inside a cryostat for testing. “There is not currently another detector that can count single photons this quickly with the same timing resolution,” said Craiciu. This work builds upon technology developed for the NASA Deep Space Optical Communication project, which will be the first demonstration of free-space optical communication from interplanetary space. The detector was developed as part of a NASA program to enable new technology for space-to-ground quantum communication, which can allow sharing of quantum information across intercontinental distances in the future. “The detector was designed with quantum communication in mind, as this is a technological area that has been limited by the performance of available detectors.”
“Our new detector is made of 32 niobium nitride superconducting nanowires on a silicon chip, which enables high count rates with high precision,” said research team member Ioana Craiciu, a postdoctoral scholar. Shaw at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory describe and demonstrate their new detector for measuring the arrival times of photons, which they call PEACOQ (performance-enhanced array for counting optical quanta) detector. In Optica, Optica Publishing Group ’s journal for high-impact research, researchers led by Matthew D. Sending information at faster speeds requires a single photon detector that can not only detect photons quickly but also precisely measure their arrival times. Because of the laws of physics, data transmitted in this way is guaranteed to remain secure. Quantum communication uses light at the single photon level to send encoded quantum information such as encryption keys in quantum key distribution.
The new device could help make high-speed quantum communication practical. WASHINGTON - Researchers have developed a new detector that can precisely measure single photons at very high rates. Caption: The PEACOQ detector is made of 32 niobium nitride superconducting nanowires on a silicon chip, which enables high count rates with high precision.
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