Introduction

The Opus One is a high-speed, high-efficiency, fiber-coupled, single-photon detection system using superconducting nanowire technology. The system can contain between one and thirty-two nanowire detectors, depending on configuration.

Figure 4: Nanowire system schematic showing Opus One Standard head unit, stand-alone elec-tronics unit, and compressor with all connections.

The nanowire system can have up to three main physical components, as identified in Figure 4:

1. The “Electronics Unit” which provides system thermometry and nanowire device control and monitoring is an external electronics unit for standard units that are incorporated into the Opus One for integrated and portable systems.

2. The “Opus One Unit” consisting of the vacuum and cryogenic components, nanowire detectors, and nanowire optical and electrical connections.

3. The “Compressor Unit” that provides the high-pressure, high-purity helium and valve control signals to obtain and maintain the low temperatures required for superconducting nanowire operation. This is a separate unit for 19” rack mountable system (Figure 1 and Figure 2) and is fully incorporated into portable systems. (Figure 3)

Figure 5: Nanowire system schematic showing Opus One integrated head unit, and compressor with all connections.

Figure 6: Nanowire system schematic showing Opus One Portable.