Pascale Senellart

Chaire annuelle Innovation technologique Liliane Bettencourt (2025-2026)

Collège de France

Année 2025-2026

Colloque : Light-based Quantum Technologies

Pascale Senellart, chaire Innovation technologique Liliane Bettencourt

Colloque - Adriana E. Lita : Development of Superconducting Single-Photon Detectors for Quantum Information Applications

Adriana E. Lita

Résumé

Single-photon detectors are a key enabling technology for the realization of light-based quantum information applications. These devices operate at the fundamental limit of electromagnetic signal strength, which places stringent requirements on their performance. The quest for an ideal single-photon detector aims to combine as many of the following performance metrics as possible: near-unity detection efficiency, ultra-low dark count rates, fast temporal response, and photon-number-resolving capability, all across a wide spectral range. In this presentation I will review the development and latest performance records achieved by single-photon detectors, with a focus on superconducting detectors such as Superconducting Nanowires Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) and Transition-Edge Sensors (TESs). I will highlight how these detectors have redefined the state-of-the-art and conclude by showcasing representative applications in quantum information science and related fields.