Negative feedback avalanche diodes for near-infrared single-photon detection

Xudong Jiang; Mark A. Itzler; Bruce Nyman; Krystyna Slomkowski

doi:10.1117/12.818681

29 April 2009 Negative feedback avalanche diodes for near-infrared single-photon detection

Xudong Jiang, Mark A. Itzler, Bruce Nyman, Krystyna Slomkowski

Proceedings Volume 7320, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques III; 732011 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818681
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2009, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

In recent years significant progress has been made in near-infrared single photon detection using Geiger-mode InP-based single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). A more detailed understanding of these detectors with regard to device design, material growth and device fabrication has led to continual performance improvements. A variety of circuits for enabling SPAD Geiger-mode operation have been proposed and demonstrated as well. However, due to the inherent positive feedback nature of the avalanche process, Geiger-mode SPADs are constrained by certain performance limitations, particularly with regard to counting rate and the absence of photon number resolution. These limitations hinder the use of SPADs in certain applications. By incorporating a negative feedback mechanism into InP-based SPADs, these SPAD performance limitations can be overcome. In this paper, we present a negative feedback avalanche diode (NFAD), which is formed by monolithically integrating a passive negative feedback element with a high-performance InP-based SPAD. We describe the design and operation of the NFAD device, along with basic characteristics such as pulse response and quenching dynamics, as well as the dependence of these characteristics on excess bias voltage and input photon number. We will also review the results of near-infrared single photon counting performance for fundamental performance parameters such as photon detection efficiency, dark count rate, and afterpulsing.

Citation Download Citation

Xudong Jiang, Mark A. Itzler, Bruce Nyman, and Krystyna Slomkowski "Negative feedback avalanche diodes for near-infrared single-photon detection", Proc. SPIE 7320, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques III, 732011 (29 April 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818681

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