Universal Model for the Turn-On Dynamics of Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are widely used in quantum information science and quantum optics because of their excellent properties, yet much of their dynamical behavior still is not fully understood. This study identifies characteristic time and resistance scales for the SNSPD detection process, and uses them to develop a universal model of SNSPD behavior. The authors furthermore clarify how different detector parameters affect the output signal, specifically exploring the effects of photon number, detector length, and bias current. These results will have an impact on SNSPD fabrication and encourage innovative applications of these sensors.