What is avalanche photodiode detector?
What is avalanche photodiode detector?
An avalanche photodiode (APD) is a highly sensitive semiconductor photodiode detector that exploits the photoelectric effect to convert light into electricity. Typical applications for APDs are laser rangefinders, long-range fiber-optic telecommunication, and quantum sensing for control algorithms.
In what applications are avalanche photodiodes most likely to be used?
Typical applications of avalanche photodiodes include receivers in optical fiber communications, range finding, imaging, high-speed laser scanners, laser microscopy, and optical-time domain reflectometers (OTDR).
What is the difference between a PIN diode detector and an avalanche photo detector?
They are high-sensitivity, high-speed semiconductor light sensors. The main advantage of the APD is that it has a greater level of sensitivity compared to PIN. The avalanche action increases the gain of the diode many times, providing much higher sensitivity. However, an APD requires a higher operating voltage.
What is the principle of avalanche photo detector?
Working Principle: The relatively weak electric field in this region forces or separates the carriers causing the electrons and holes to drift into the high electric field region. The electrons are drifted towards the p-n+ layer. Because of the high field intensity, electrons are imparted with high kinetic energy.
What are the drawbacks of avalanche photodiode?
Avalanche photodiode disadvantages: Much higher operating voltage may be required. Avalanche photodiode produces a much higher level of noise than a PN photodiode. Avalanche process means that the output is not linear.
Where is photodiode used?
Photodiodes are used in consumer electronics devices such as compact disc players, smoke detectors, medical devices and the receivers for infrared remote control devices used to control equipment from televisions to air conditioners. For many applications either photodiodes or photoconductors may be used.
What are the applications of avalanche photodiodes?
Typical applications of avalanche photodiodes include receivers in optical fiber communications, range finding, imaging, high-speed laser scanners, laser microscopy, and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR).
What are the limitations of avalanche diode technology?
That dead time constitutes a substantial limitation of this technology. It limits the count rate to the order of 10 MHz, whereas an avalanche diode in linear mode (i.e., operated with lower reverse voltage) may be operated with a bandwidth of many gigahertz.
What is a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD)?
Photon-counting APDs are also called SPADs = single-photon avalanche diodes . When optimized for high quantum efficiencies, they can be used in quantum optics experiments (for example, for quantum cryptography) and in some of the applications mentioned above if an extremely high responsivity is required.
How is output output from a fiber coupled to a photodetector?
Output from a fiber is coupled into the photodetector using an aspheric lens to focus the signal onto the detector active area. In fiber coupling applications, we recommend taking into account the divergence of light from the fiber tip to ensure that all of the signal is focused onto the detector active area.
