NIST scientists have developed a compact, low-power cooling system for superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) that eliminates the need for liquid helium. The new system, which fits in a standard electronics rack, uses a hybrid cooling method combining a Joule-Thomson cryocooler and a pulse-tube refrigerator. This breakthrough could make SNSPDs more widely available for applications in quantum communications, defect analysis, LIDAR, and biological research.
The prototype system, developed by NIST physicists Sae Woo Nam, Vincent Kotsubo, and Joel Ullom, operates at temperatures just a few kelvins above absolute zero. It represents a significant step towards making cryogenic systems “invisible” to users, allowing them to focus on their research rather than managing complex cooling systems. The technology has potential applications in portable telecommunications and could save organizations millions of dollars by eliminating the need for liquid helium cooling systems.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/05/no-liquid-helium-still-extremely-cool
Keywords: Nanowire, Single-photon detectors, Cryogenic systems, Quantum Opus, Superconducting materials
