Westfalische Wilhelms-Universität Münster

Pixel Photonics Gmbh

Nicolai Walter

Wolfram Pernice

Simone Ferrari

Fabian Beutel

The invention relates to a single-photon detector device () for detecting an optical signal, comprising an optical waveguide () and at least two nanowires (). The optical waveguide () is designed to guide the optical signal along an optical axis (), wherein the at least two nanowires () are arranged along the optical axis () relative thereto such that at least a second nanowire () is arranged in front of a first nanowire () with respect to the optical axis (), wherein the at least two nanowires () are designed to be superconductive at a specified temperature and, in the superconductive state, to generate an output signal when an intensity threshold of the optical signal is exceeded, and the at least two nanowires () are designed so as to have different intensity thresholds. The invention additionally relates to the use of the aforementioned single-photon detector device for detecting an attack during a signal transmission encrypted using a quantum key distribution.

Interception-proof single-photon detector device for detecting an optical signal

The invention relates to a single photon detector device for detecting an optical signal comprising an optical fiber and at least one nanowire, wherein the optical fiber comprises a core area and a cladding area and is designed to conduct the optical signal along an optical axis, wherein, with respect to the optical axis, a first area of the optical fiber is an entrance area for the optical signal and a second area of the optical fiber is a detector area, and wherein the nanowire becomes superconducting at a predetermined temperature and is designed in the superconducting state to generate an output signal as a function of the optical signal. It is provided that in the detector area of the optical fiber the nanowire extends essentially along the optical axis of the optical fiber. A single photon detector device is thus provided which has a simple structure, a high efficiency, a high detection rate and a high spectral bandwidth.

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Münster, Germany

Nicolai Walter