Superconducting single-photon detectors: physics and performance

Abstract

A comparative review of physical effects will be given which allow for single-photon detection in superconductors. The major techniques to detect nonequilibrium situation in a superconductor are counting of excess electrons, creating a local current-enhanced resistive transition and monitoring the mean energy of the electron population (hot-electron temperature). Ultimate performance of devices utilizing the aforementioned detection principles will be compared as well as presently achieved performance of transition edge sensors, microbolometers, tunnel junction detectors and nanowire detectors.