Dmitry V. Morozov, Alessandro Casaburi & Robert H. Hadfield (2022) Superconducting photon detectors, Contemporary Physics, DOI: 10.1080/00107514.2022.2043596
The ability to detect individual light quanta – single photons – is prized across many fields of physics from astronomy to quantum optics. Superconducting photon detectors offer exceptional performance in terms of sensitivity, spectral range and timing resolution. In this review, we introduce the underlying physics of photon absorption in superconducting devices. We then present detailed case studies of contemporary superconducting detector technologies for photon counting at visible and infrared wavelengths. We conclude with a perspective on future developments in this exciting area.
