Achieving higher photon counting rates using multiplexed detectors
Stefania Castelletto, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, Alan L. Migdall, Sergey V. Polyakov, Valentina Schettini · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2006
As the quantum information field advances, the need for improved single-photon devices is becoming more critical. Quantum information systems are often limited by detector deadtime to count rates of a few MHz, at best. We present a multiplexed detection scheme that allows photon counting at higher rates than possible with single detectors. The system uses an array of detectors and an optical switch system to direct incoming photons to detectors known to be live. We model the system for realistic individual detector deadtimes and optical switching times. We show that such a system offers more promise than simply reducing the deadtime of an individual detector. We find that a system of N detectors with a given deadtime, can count photons at faster rates than a single detector with a deadtime reduced by 1/N, even if it were practical to make such a large improvement.