Superconductor-superconductor bilayers for enhancing single-photon detection

Here, we optimized ultrathin films of granular NbN on SiO₂ and of amorphous αW₅Si₃. We showed that hybrid superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) made of 2 nm thick αW₅Si₃ films over 2 nm thick NbN films exhibit advantageous coexistence of timing (<5 ns reset time and 52 ps timing jitter) and efficiency (>96% quantum efficiency) performance. We discuss the governing mechanism of this hybridization via the proximity effect. Our results demonstrate saturated SNSPDs performance at 1550 nm optical wavelength and suggest that such hybridization can significantly expand the range of available superconducting properties, impacting other nano-superconducting technologies. Lastly, this hybridization may be used to tune properties, such as the amorphous character of superconducting films.