Paper detail

Magnetic-field dependence of count rates in superconducting thin-film TaN single-photon detectors

We have studied the magnetic-field dependence of both dark-count rates and photon-count rates in a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector made of TaN in external magnetic fields $|μ_0H| < 10$ mT perpendicular to the plane of the underlying meander structure and at $T = 4$ K. The dark-count rates show a characteristic field-dependence, which is asymmetric with respect to magnetic field direction. The field- and the current dependence of the dark counts can be quantitatively well explained if one assumes that the critical current is reduced to $\approx50%$ at the $180^\circ$ meander turns when compared to a straight strip, and the observed asymmetry can be modeled assuming that the turnarounds are not all strictly equal. Surprisingly, the photon count rates do not show any significant field dependence, which seems to be at odds with existing detection models invoking vortex crossings.