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A detector capable of resolving the number of photons is crucial for numerous applications, including quantum communication and quantum optics. Using a photon-number-resolving detector allows us to both determine the number of incident photons and reconstruct their distribution [1]. This capability is particularly important at telecom wavelengths, where silicon detectors are ineffective. One promising solution is superconducting nanostrip photon detectors, which exhibit a low dark count rate, picosecond time resolution, and near-unit efficiency at the wavelength 1550 nm [2]. In this work, we present the study of a photon-number-resolving detector based on an array of high-efficiency NbN nanostrips, which are suitable for operation at temperatures around 2 K. We model the response of this detector using a matrix and reconstruct the photon number distribution of the incoming light.
[1] F. Marsili et al, Physics and application of photon number resolving detectors based on superconducting parallel nanowires, New J. Phys. 11, 045022 (2009).
[2] I. E. Zadeh et al, Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors: A perspective on evolution, state-of-the-art, future developments, and applications, Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 190502 (2021).
