Researchers at NIST have developed a superconducting camera with 400,000 pixels, the highest resolution of its kind. The camera uses ultrathin electrical wires cooled to near absolute zero, where current flows without resistance until struck by a photon. This creates a tiny hotspot that generates detectable signals.
The key innovation was combining signals from many pixels onto just a few readout wires. By placing readout wires parallel to rows and columns of pixels, the team could measure signals from entire rows or columns at once, drastically reducing the number of wires needed.
The camera can detect single photons and has the potential to revolutionize fields like astronomy, quantum computing, and biomedical imaging. The team plans to improve sensitivity over the next year to capture virtually every incoming photon, enabling applications in low-light imaging and quantum technologies.
Keywords: Sensitivity, Photons, Superconductivity, Nanowires, Metrology
