Researchers have developed a superconducting camera with 400,000 pixels that can detect single photons. The camera uses a grid of superconducting wires that lose their superconductivity when struck by a photon, generating a signal. This breakthrough paves the way for larger-format superconducting cameras that could be used in astronomical imaging and biomedical research. The camera has 400 times more pixels than previous versions, making it more practical for low-light endeavors. The team plans to improve the sensitivity of the camera to capture every incoming photon, enabling it to revolutionize fields such as astronomy and medical imaging.
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a superconducting camera with 400,000 pixels, 400 times more than any other device of its kind. The camera, made up of ultrathin electrical wires cooled to near absolute zero, can detect weak light signals, making it useful for applications in astronomy and biomedical research. By combining signals from multiple pixels onto a few readout wires, the researchers overcame the challenge of connecting each pixel to its own wire. The team plans to improve the camera's sensitivity to capture every incoming photon, enabling it to image faint galaxies, measure light in quantum computers, and contribute to biomedical studies.
Scientists at NIST have developed the world's highest-resolution single-photon superconducting camera with 400,000 pixels, a 400 times increase compared to similar cameras. The camera, made up of grids of thin electrical wires cooled to near absolute zero, enables the capture of weak light signals for various applications, including biomedical imaging and astronomical observations. The novel readout structure allows for scalability, potentially leading to even larger cameras with higher resolution. The team plans to improve the camera's sensitivity to capture every incoming photon, opening up possibilities for low-light imaging and biomedical studies.
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a superconducting camera with 400,000 pixels, 400 times more than any previous device of its kind. The camera uses ultrathin electrical wires cooled to near absolute zero, where current moves with no resistance until a photon strikes a wire, disrupting the superconductivity and creating an electrical signal. By combining signals from multiple pixels onto a few readout wires, the researchers overcame the challenge of connecting each pixel to its own wire. This breakthrough could open up new applications in science, such as imaging faint galaxies or planets, measuring light in quantum computers, and biomedical studies using near-infrared light to examine human tissue.
