Superconducting Readout Circuits for SNSPD Arrays, Year 2

Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) must be scaled to kilopixel arrays for a future optical DSN or for space telescope applications such as OST, but routing thousands of lines for room-temperature readout is a challenge. This task seeks to experimentally investigate the use of superconducting readout circuits based on Rapid Single Flux Quantum (RSFQ) as a route toward large-format SNSPD arrays hybridized with superconducting ROICs. RSFQ circuits designed at Hypres and fabricated at MIT-LL will be interfaced to SNSPDs and the performance evaluated. RSFQ circuits will consist of an edge detect circuit and a time-to-digital converter operating at 1 – 4 K

An existing collaboration with Hypres, Inc. and MIT Lincoln Lab will cover the design and fabrication of SFQ circuits. CIF funding will be used for JPL staff to test TDC circuits. In collaboration with MIT Campus, optical readout will be tested.; SFQ TDC circuits designed at Hypres and fabricated at MIT-LL (at no cost to JPL) will be interfaced to JPL SNSPDs. Optical modulators from MIT will be tested with SNSPDs at JPL.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.