A Path to Superconducting Nanowire Readout of Xe- based detectors

Xe 探测器的超导纳米线读数之路

• 批准号: ST/Y509929/1
• 负责人: James Dobson
• 金额: $ 64.18万
• 依托单位: King's College London
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FY509929%2F1
• 关键词: Path; Superconducting; Nanowire; Readout; Xe

With near-unity quantum efficiencies (QE), ultra-low dark count rates down to 10-4 Hz/device and exquisite sub-10-ps-timing resolution, Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) with vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) sensitivity offer a potential step change as a new readout technology for a broad range of scintillator detectors used by the PPAN community (LXe, LHe, LAr) and have application in many non-PPAN areas, such as UV imaging techniques in the life sciences and as a low-noise readout for quantum technology. Most commercially available SNSPD devices target infrared wavelengths, and whilst some UV models are available they are not optimised for 178 nm VUV Xe light. This project brings together UK expertise in LXe*detectors with world-class capability in SNSPD design and fabrication, to deliver a proof-of-principle demonstration of a VUV-sensitive SNSPD device and to develop a range of novel applications across PPAN, quantum technology and the life sciences that are enabled by this new capability. Due to its inherent scalability, dark matter detectors based on the UK*pioneered LXe-technology have led the search for intermediate-mass dark matter for more than a decade. Alongside Xe target mass and stringent radiopurity requirements, the key driver for improved sensitivity for low*energy signals is the efficiency with which the 175 nm VUV scintillation light is detected. At these wavelengths, traditional readout devices such as VUV*sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and Si-photomultipliers (SiPM) achieve 25-35% QE and as such readout with a > 90% QE SNSPD would be a significant improvement. The typical requirement of a triple-coincidence scintillation signal detected across multiple photosensors means this would result in an order of magnitude increase in signal efficiency for low mass dark matter and 8-Boron solar neutrinos. The key objectives of this project are to demonstrate the viability of a VUV*sensitive SNSPD device and to establish the feasibility and develop cases that leverage this new capability, including their use for readout of compact Xe*based particle detectors, VUV fluorescence spectroscopy, and ion-trap quantum computers. The project will follow a staged approach to characterise existing SNSPD detectors developed by Prof. Hadfield's group at the University of Glasgow: first, demonstrate the performance of the SNSPD to a VUV signal using double-coincident VIS (400 nm) events as a proxy; then the characterisation of VUV transmittance in solarisation-resistant optical fibres using VUV SiPM devices; which will enable coupling the SNSPD device, first to a monochromatic light source and then to a Xe scintillation cell for complete characterisation.

具有真空紫外（VUV）灵敏度的超导纳米线单光子探测器（SNSPDs）具有近单位量子效率（QE），低至10-4 Hz/器件的超低暗计数率和精细的亚10-ps定时分辨率，为PPAN社区（LXe, LHe, LAr）使用的各种闪烁体探测器提供了潜在的阶跃变化新读出技术，并在许多非PPAN领域得到应用。例如生命科学中的紫外成像技术和量子技术中的低噪声读出技术。大多数商业上可用的SNSPD设备针对红外波长，而一些UV型号可用，但它们没有针对178 nm VUV Xe光进行优化。该项目将英国在LXe*探测器方面的专业知识与世界级的SNSPD设计和制造能力结合起来，提供vuv敏感SNSPD设备的原理验证演示，并开发一系列跨PPAN，量子技术和生命科学的新应用。由于其固有的可扩展性，基于英国首创的lxe技术的暗物质探测器在十多年来一直引领着对中等质量暗物质的搜索。除了Xe目标质量和严格的放射性纯度要求外，提高低能量信号灵敏度的关键驱动因素是检测175 nm VUV闪烁光的效率。在这些波长下，传统的读出器件，如VUV*敏感光电倍增管（pmt）和si光电倍增管（SiPM）实现25-35%的QE，因此具有> 90% QE的SNSPD读出将是显着的改进。通过多个光传感器检测到三符合闪烁信号的典型要求意味着这将导致低质量暗物质和8-硼太阳中微子的信号效率提高一个数量级。该项目的主要目标是证明VUV敏感SNSPD设备的可行性，并建立利用这种新能力的可行性和开发案例，包括它们用于紧凑型Xe*粒子探测器的读出，VUV荧光光谱和离子阱量子计算机。该项目将采用分阶段的方法来表征格拉斯哥大学哈德菲尔德教授团队开发的现有SNSPD探测器：首先，使用双同步VIS （400 nm）事件作为代理，展示SNSPD对VUV信号的性能；然后利用VUV SiPM器件表征抗晒光纤中的VUV透射率；这将使SNSPD器件耦合，首先到单色光源，然后到Xe闪烁单元，以完成表征。