  The superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) is a
quantum-limit superconducting optical detector based on the Cooper-pair
breaking effect by a single photon, which exhibits a higher detection
efficiency, lower dark count rate, higher counting rate, and lower timing
jitter when compared with those exhibited by its counterparts. SNSPDs have been
extensively applied in quantum information processing, including quantum key
distribution and optical quantum computation. In this review, we present the
requirements of single-photon detectors from quantum information, as well as
the principle, key metrics, latest performance issues and other issues
associated with SNSPD. The representative applications of SNSPDs with respect
to quantum information will also be covered.
