Optical time domain reflectometry with low noise waveguide-coupled superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors

摘要

We demonstrate optical time domain reflectometry over 200?km of optical fiber using low-noise NbTiN superconducting single-photon detectors integrated with Si3N4 waveguides. Our small detector footprint enables high timing resolution of 50?ps and a dark count rate of 3?Hz with unshielded fibers, allowing for identification of defects along the fiber over a dynamic range of 37.4?dB. Photons scattered and reflected back from the fiber under test can be detected in free-running mode without showing dead zones or other impairments often encountered in semiconductor photon-counting optical time domain reflectometers.