Superconducting Nanowire Detectors: Picosecond Timing and High-Efficiency for Particle and Accelerator Physics

• Fateme Esfandi (School of Particles and Accelerators - IPM)

Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) have emerged as the leading technology for ultra-fast, ultra-low-noise photon detection, offering performance that surpasses conventional photomultiplier tubes and semiconductor photodetectors by orders of magnitude. In this talk, I will introduce the physics of superconducting materials, the microscopic detection mechanism in nanowires, and the device structures that enable >90% efficiency, sub-20-ps timing jitter, and true photon-number resolution. Focusing on applications relevant to particle and accelerator physics, I will show how the unique characteristics of SNSPDs address longstanding limitations in timing, background suppression, low-light detection, and precision photon diagnostics. Emerging advances in large-area arrays, cryogenic readout, and integration with quantum technologies will also be discussed. This talk aims to provide a clear and accessible introduction to the technology and highlight new opportunities for its use in high-energy physics and accelerator-based experiments.