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InP-based single-photon detector arrays with asynchronous readout integrated circuits

October 1, 2008
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Journal Article
Author:
James B. Glettler
…
Published in:
Opt. Eng., Vol. 47, No. 10, 1 October 2008.
Topic:
integrated circuit
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

We have developed and demonstrated a highduty- cycle asynchronous InGaAsP-based photon counting detector system with near-ideal Poisson response, roomtemperature operation, and nanosecond timing resolution for near-infrared applications. The detector is based on an array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes coupled to a custom integrated circuit that provides for lossless readout via an asynchronous, nongated architecture. We present results showing Poisson response for incident photon flux rates up to 10 million photons per second and multiple photons per 3-ns timing bin.
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Summary

We have developed and demonstrated a highduty- cycle asynchronous InGaAsP-based photon counting detector system with near-ideal Poisson response, roomtemperature operation, and nanosecond timing resolution for near-infrared applications. The detector is based on an array of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes coupled to a custom integrated circuit that provides for lossless readout via...

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InP-based single-photon detector arrays with asynchronous readout integrated circuits

Design of an optical photon counting array receiver system for deep-space communications

October 1, 2007
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Journal Article
Author:
Jeffrey A. Mendenhall
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Published in:
Proc. of the IEEE, Vol. 95, No. 10, October 2007, pp. 2059-2069.
Topic:
photonics
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Demand for increased capacity in deep-space to Earth communications systems continues to rise as sensor data rates climb and mission requirements expand. Optical freespace laser communications systems offer the potential for operating at data rates 10 to 1000 times that of current radiofrequency systems. A key element in an optical communications system is the Earth receiver. This paper reviews the design of a distributed photon-counting receiver array composed of four meter-class telescopes, developed as a part of the Mars Laser Communications Demonstration (MLCD) project. This design offers a cost-effective and adaptable alternative approach to traditional large, single-aperture receive elements while preserving the expected improvement in data rates enabled by free-space laser communications systems. Key challenges in developing distributed receivers and details of the MLCD design are discussed.
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Summary

Demand for increased capacity in deep-space to Earth communications systems continues to rise as sensor data rates climb and mission requirements expand. Optical freespace laser communications systems offer the potential for operating at data rates 10 to 1000 times that of current radiofrequency systems. A key element in an optical...

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Design of an optical photon counting array receiver system for deep-space communications

Arrays of InP-based avalanche photodiodes for photon counting

July 1, 2007
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Journal Article
Author:
Simon Verghese
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Published in:
IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron., Vol. 13, No. 4, July/August 2007, pp. 870-886.
Topic:
photonics
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

Arrays of InP-based avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with InGaAsP absorber regions have been fabricated and characterized in the Geiger mode for photon-counting applications. Measurements of APDs with InGaAsP absorbers optimized for 1.06 um wavelength show dark count rates (DCRs)
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Summary

Arrays of InP-based avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with InGaAsP absorber regions have been fabricated and characterized in the Geiger mode for photon-counting applications. Measurements of APDs with InGaAsP absorbers optimized for 1.06 um wavelength show dark count rates (DCRs)

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Arrays of InP-based avalanche photodiodes for photon counting

An end-to-end demonstration of a receiver array based free-space photon counting communications link

August 13, 2006
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Conference Paper
Author:
Pablo I. Hopman
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Published in:
SPIE Vol. 6304, Free-Space Laser Communications VI, 13-17 August 2006, pp. 63040H-1 - 63040H-13.
Topic:
photonics
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

NASA anticipates a significant demand for long-haul communications service from deep-space to Earth in the near future. To address this need, a substantial effort has been invested in developing a free-space laser communications system that can be operated at data rates that are 10-1000 times higher than current RF systems. We have built an endto- end free-space photon counting testbed to demonstrate many of the key technologies required for a deep space optical receiver. The testbed consists of two independent receivers, each using a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode detector array. A hardware aggregator combines the photon arrivals from the two receivers and the aggregated photon stream is decoded in real time with a hardware turbo decoder. We have demonstrated signal acquisition, clock synchronization, and error free communications at data rates up to 14 million bits per second while operating within 1 dB of the channel capacity with an efficiency of greater than 1 bit per incident photon.
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Summary

NASA anticipates a significant demand for long-haul communications service from deep-space to Earth in the near future. To address this need, a substantial effort has been invested in developing a free-space laser communications system that can be operated at data rates that are 10-1000 times higher than current RF systems...

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An end-to-end demonstration of a receiver array based free-space photon counting communications link

Afterpulsing in Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes for 1.06um wavelength

March 27, 2006
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Journal Article
Author:
Katharine E. Jensen
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Published in:
Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 88, No. 13, 27 March 2006, pp. 133503-1 - 133503-3.
Topic:
photonics
R&D area:
R&D group:

Summary

We consider the phenomenon of afterpulsing in avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating in gated and free-running Geiger mode. An operational model of afterpulsing and other noise characteristics of APDs predicts the noise behavior observed in the free-running mode. We also use gated-mode data to investigate possible sources of afterpulsing in these devices. For 30-um-diam, 1.06-um-wavelength InGaAsP/InP APDs operated at 290 K and 4 V overbias, we obtained a dominant trap lifetime of td=0.32 us, a trap energy of 0.11 eV, and a baseline dark count rate 245 kHz.
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Summary

We consider the phenomenon of afterpulsing in avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating in gated and free-running Geiger mode. An operational model of afterpulsing and other noise characteristics of APDs predicts the noise behavior observed in the free-running mode. We also use gated-mode data to investigate possible sources of afterpulsing in these...

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Afterpulsing in Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes for 1.06um wavelength
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