Photon Number-Resolved Detection With Sequentially Connected Nanowires

Sequentially connected superconducting nanowires, such as nanopatterned meanders, are very promising candidates for single-photon detectors capable to resolve a number of photons in the pulse. In such devices, the photon number-resolved (PNR) mode is possible due to independent detection of electromagnetic quanta by different regions of the meander. Every photon creates a resistive region in the superconductive meander and the total resistance is expected to be proportional to the number of photons absorbed. While the PNR mode can be realized with available single-photon detectors based on NbN nanowires, up to now it has not been observed experimentally. Here we show that the PNR mode in NbN requires the proper impedance matching between readout circuitry and nanowire-based detector. We discuss possible design of the readout circuitry for PNR detection. Results of modeling show that a high impedance amplifier placed in close proximity to the superconducting nanostructure can provide effective readout for the NbN nanowire-based detector operating in PNR mode.