Ge-on-Si Single-Photon Avalanche Diode Detectors with Low Noise Equivalent Power in the Short-Wave Infrared

Millar, R. W. et al. (2021) Ge-on-Si Single-Photon Avalanche Diode Detectors with Low Noise Equivalent Power in the Short-Wave Infrared. In: 2021 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC), Munich, Germany, 21-25 June 2021, ISBN 9781665418768 (doi: 10.1109/CLEO/Europe-EQEC52157.2021.9542785)

Abstract

Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) detectors are of significant interest for a range of applications [1] , in particular for quantum technologies (e.g. quantum-key distribution, quantum information processing), and light detection and ranging (LIDAR) for defence, terrain mapping, and autonomous vehicles. These applications either require, or benefit from, operation at wavelengths in the short-wave infrared (SWIR). Previous SWIR single-photon LIDAR has typically used InGaAs/InP SPAD detector technology, which has relatively low efficiency and suffers from afterpulsing. Previously, a pseudo-planar design for a Ge-on-Si SPAD was demonstrated [2] , yielding a huge improvement in performance for Ge-on-Si SPADs at 1310 nm and demonstrating the potential for Si foundry compatible SWIR SPADs. Furthermore, reduced afterpulsing was demonstrated compared to a commercial InGaAs/InP device when measured in nominally identical conditions. Here we present a further step change in performance, with reduced dark count rate (DCR), record low noise-equivalent-power (NEP) and low jitter by scaling the technology and developing 26 µm diameter pixels [3] .

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Millar, Dr Ross and Watson, Dr Scott and Bruce, Mr Angus and Paul, Professor Douglas and Kirdoda, Mr Jaroslaw and Benakaprasad, Miss Bhavana and Ferre Llin, Dr Lourdes and Dumas, Dr Derek
• Authors: Millar, R. W., Kirdoda, J., Thorburn, F., Huddleston, L. L., Dumas, D. C.S., Greener, Z. M., Kuzmenko, K., Vines, P., Ferre-Llin, L., Yi, X., Watson, S., Benakaprasad, B., Bruce, A., Buller, G. S., and Paul, D. J.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• ISBN: 9781665418768
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 IEEE
• First Published: First published in 2021 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy