Optimizing the growth conditions of superconducting MoSi thin films for single photon detection

Abstract

We investigate the growth of amorphous MoSi thin films using magnetron co-sputtering and optimize the growth conditions with respect to crystal structure and superconducting properties (e.g., critical temperature). The deposition pressure, Mo:Si stoichiometry and substrate temperature are systematically varied to achieve a transition temperature of 8.4(3) K for films with a thickness of 17.7(8) nm and 6.2(9) K for a 4.3(4) nm thick film. For Mo concentrations above 81% the crystalline phase Mo3Si is observed in grazing incidence X-ray diffraction measurements. The same phase appears when the working pressure during deposition is reduced below 3.1×10-3mbar and when the substrate temperature during deposition is increased above C. By choosing a sufficient Si concentration and optimum deposition pressure we identify deposition conditions that ensure a homogeneous amorphous growth of the superconducting thin film. We then fabricate superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors which exhibit an unitary internal efficiency to single photons at an operational temperature of 1.2 K while simultaneously having a dark count rate below 1 Hz. Our results establish the link between MoSi film deposition, morphology and the performance of SSPD.