HgCdTe APDs detector developments at CEA/Leti for atmospheric lidar and free space optical communications

Abstract

HgCdTe APD detector modules telecommunication are developed at CEA/Leti for atmospheric LIDAR and free space optical (FSO). The development is driven by the design and manufacture of generic sub-assemblies that can be adapted in each detector module to meet the specific detector requirements of each application. The optimization of such subassemblies is detailed in perspective of the challenges that are set by the specifications for detector modules currently developed for atmospheric LIDAR, in the scope of an R&T CNES project for Airbus and an H2020 project HOLDON, and FSO, in the scope of an ESA project and in collaboration with Mynaric Lasercom GmbH. Two detector modules have recently been delivered to Airbus DS for extensive LIDAR simulation tests. Initial characterization of these modules shows that the input noise, NEP=10-15fW/√Hz (5 photons rms) have been reduced by a factor three compared to previously developed large area detectors although the bandwidth have been increased to 180 MHz in order to respond to the requirements of high spatial depth resolution. The temporal remanence was 10 -4 at 200 ns after the detection of short light impulse, which is compatible with demanding LIDAR applications such as bathymetric profiling.

Object identification and tracking by quantum radar

“…Therefore, with the typical APDs the limit would be on the order of 10 10 photon pairs per second. The suppression of the timing jitter for APDs is an area of active research and there are ongoing efforts to reduce it to tens of ps 20 .…”

Experimental Study of the Free Space Optics Communication System Operating in the 8–12 µm Spectral Range

“…Electronics 2021, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 13 characteristics of the atmosphere's attenuation and the availability of sources and detectors of optical radiation [18]. The development of quantum cascade (QC) lasers operating in the long-wave infrared radiation and highly sensitive mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detectors provided new possibilities for FSO links [19,20]. It has become possible to develop an FSO link operating at wavelengths 8-12 µ m where there is less attenuation caused by mists with fine aerosol particles than in the case of commercially available links.…”

Development of a NIR-VIS-UV lidar echo emulator

“…It was later delivered to AIRBUS to characterize two detector modules developed by CEA/Leti. The results obtained from the first characterization (using the NIR-LEE) in AIRBUS showed that all the characterized parameters met the specifications, except the quantum efficiency to excess noise factor ratio (QEFR) and the remanence (time delay induced by a strong signal) [3]. These and other critical optical parameters will be explored in the frame of the H2020 HOLDON project [5].…”

“…Hence, MCT APD detectors for atmospheric lidar are being currently developed within the framework of Research and Technology National Centre for Space Studies (R&T CNES) projects and a H2020 project called HOLDON. The objective of these projects is to optimize characteristics of the MCT APD detector modules to reach the specific challenges imposed by atmospheric lidar measurements in terms of dynamic range, response time, temporal lag (remanence) and background noise [3].…”