Patent attributes
A photon counting device includes unit cells, a bias current source coupled to the unit cells, and a waveguide coupled to the unit cells. Each unit cell includes photodetector(s). Each photodetector includes superconducting component(s) and a transistor. The transistor includes a superconducting gate that is coupled in parallel with the photodetector(s), and a channel that is electrically isolated from the superconducting gate. For each unit cell, a photodetector is optically coupled to the waveguide. A superconducting component is configured to transition from the superconducting state to the non-superconducting state in response to a photon being incident upon the superconducting component while the superconducting component receives at least a portion of bias current output from the bias current source. The superconducting gate of the unit cell is configured to transition from the superconducting state to the non-superconducting state in response to the superconducting component transitioning to the non-superconducting state.
