Detection of ultra-weak laser pulses by free-running single-photon detectors: Modeling dead time and dark counts effects

authored by: Hristina Georgieva, Alice Meda, Sebastian M.F. Raupach, Helmuth Hofer, Marco Gramegna, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, Marco Genovese, Marco López, Stefan Kück
Abstract: In quantum communication systems, the precise estimation of the detector´s response to the incoming light is necessary to avoid security breaches. The typical working regime uses a free-running single-photon avalanche diode in combination with attenuated laser pulses at telecom wavelength for encoding information. We demonstrate the validity of an analytical model for this regime that considers the effects of dark counts and dead time on the measured count rate. For the purpose of gaining a better understanding of these effects, the photon detections were separated from the dark counts via a software-induced gating mechanism. The model was verified by experimental data for mean photon numbers covering three orders of magnitude as well as for laser repetition frequencies below and above the inverse dead time. Consequently, our model would be of interest for predicting the detector response not only in the field of quantum communications, but also in any other quantum physics experiment where high detection rates are needed.
External Organisation(s): National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB)
Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM)
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN)
Type: Article
Journal: Applied physics letters
Volume: 118
ISSN: 0003-6951
Publication date: 26.04.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0046014 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{30b94fbfe8274f4f82da1889e3d9f86d,
title = "Detection of ultra-weak laser pulses by free-running single-photon detectors: Modeling dead time and dark counts effects",
abstract = "In quantum communication systems, the precise estimation of the detector´s response to the incoming light is necessary to avoid security breaches. The typical working regime uses a free-running single-photon avalanche diode in combination with attenuated laser pulses at telecom wavelength for encoding information. We demonstrate the validity of an analytical model for this regime that considers the effects of dark counts and dead time on the measured count rate. For the purpose of gaining a better understanding of these effects, the photon detections were separated from the dark counts via a software-induced gating mechanism. The model was verified by experimental data for mean photon numbers covering three orders of magnitude as well as for laser repetition frequencies below and above the inverse dead time. Consequently, our model would be of interest for predicting the detector response not only in the field of quantum communications, but also in any other quantum physics experiment where high detection rates are needed.",
author = "Hristina Georgieva and Alice Meda and Raupach, {Sebastian M.F.} and Helmuth Hofer and Marco Gramegna and Degiovanni, {Ivo Pietro} and Marco Genovese and Marco L{\'o}pez and Stefan K{\"u}ck",
note = "Funding information: The work reported on this Letter was funded by the project EMPIR 19NRM06 METISQ. This project received funding from the EMPIR program co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. This research was supported by the following projects: project “Piemonte Quantum Enabling Technologies” (PiQuET), funded by the Piemonte Region within the “Infra-P” scheme (POR-FESR 2014–2020 program of the European Union); NATO under the SPS program, project “Analysis, design and implementation of an end-to-end 400 km QKD link” (Grant No. SPS G5263). We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Braunschweig International Graduate School of Metrology B-IGSM and the DFG Research Training group 1952 Metrology for Complex Nanosystems. This work was also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany{\textquoteright}s Excellence Strategy—EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers— 390837967.",
year = "2021",
month = apr,
day = "26",
doi = "10.1063/5.0046014",
language = "English",
volume = "118",
journal = "Applied physics letters",
issn = "0003-6951",
publisher = "American Institute of Physics",
number = "17",
}