InGaAs/InP Single Photon Avalanche Diodes

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate balanced detectors to improve the performance of sine wave gated single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). This technique can realize continuous tuning of the operation frequency for sinusoidal gating of SPADs without incorporating band elimination filters. The dual SPAD circuit is biased in a balanced configuration so that the common mode signals are cancelled, which can improve the system sensitivity as well as suppress afterpulsing. At a laser repetition rate of 1 MHz and temperature of 240 K the dark count rate and photon detection efficiency were 58 kHz and 43%, respectively. The afterpulse probability is lower than a sine wave gated single SPAD. Timing resolution, i.e., jitter, is also reported. A jitter of 240 ps was achieved with 1 photon per pulse and excess bias of 1.ECS Transactions, 45 (33) 37-43 (2013) 37 ) unless CC License in place (see abstract). ecsdl.org/site/terms_use address. Redistribution subject to ECS terms of use (see 169.230.243.252 Downloaded on 2015-02-19 to IP