types of photodetector

An InP field-buffer layer often separates the InGaAs absorption region from the superlattice multiplication region. Grating Waveguide Couplers An external quantum efficiency of ~70% and a gain-bandwidth product of 270 GHz were realized in such a 1.55-μm APD using a 60-nm-thick absorbing layer with a 200-nm-thick multiplication layer. A superlattice design offers the possibility of reducing the ratio kA = αh/αe from its standard value of nearly unity. In the first section of the book nine different types of photodetectors and their characteristics are presented. The bandwidth of a p-n photodiode is often limited by the transit time τtr. This problem can be solved through back illumination if the substrate is transparent to the incident light. A simple way to increase the depletion-region width is to insert a layer of undoped (or lightly doped) semiconductor material between the p-n junction. Since the absorption region (i-type InGaAs layer) and the multiplication region (n-type InP layer) are separate in such a device, this structure is known as SAM, where SAM stands for separate absorption and multiplication regions. Waveguide photodiodes have been used for 40-Gb/s optical receivers and have the potential for operating at bit rates as high as 100 Gb/s. Such devices exhibit a low dark-current density, a responsivity of about 0.6 A/W at 1.3 μm, and a rise time of about 16 ps. Since absorption takes place along the length of the optical waveguide (~ 10 μm), the quantum efficiency can be nearly 100% even for an ultrathin absorption layer. It is even possible to grade the composition of InGaAsP over a region of 10-100 nm thickness. The figure below shows such a device schematically together with its 3-dB bandwidth measured as a function of the APD gain. The use of a 20-nm-thick InAlAs barrier-enhancement layer resulted in 1992 in 1.3-μm MSM photodetectors exhibiting 92% quantum efficiency (through back illumination) with a low dark current. Such devices exhibit a low dark-current density, a responsivity of about 0.6 A/W at 1.3 μm, and a rise time of about 16 ps. Their numerical values depend on the semiconductor material and on the electric field that accelerates electrons and holes. Weak interaction effects: photons induce secondary effects such as in photon drag. As kA << 1 for Si, silicon APDs can be designed to provide high performance and are useful for lightwave systems operating near 0.8 μm at bit rates ~100 Mb/s. As a result, a Schottky barrier is formed at each metal-semiconductor interface that prevents the flow of electrons from the metal to the semiconductor. [2] (b) An In GaAsp. Adding a light source to the device effectively "primed" the detector so that in the presence of long wavelengths, it fired on wavelengths that otherwise lacked the energy to do so. Both of these approaches reduce the bias voltage to near 10 V, maintain high efficiency, and reduce the transit time to ~1 ps. Nov 14, 2020, Attenuation in Fibers ~ 100 ps, although lower values are possible with a proper design. Figure (a) above shows the structure of a p-n photodiode. In another approach, the structure is separated from the host substrate and bonded to a silicon substrate with the interdigited contact on bottom. In particular, the bandwidth Δf is larger by about a factor of 2 for top illumination, although the responsivity is reduced because of metal shadowing. However, in contrast with a p-i-n photodiode or APD, no p-n junction is required. It was measured by using a spectrum analyzer (circles) as well as taking the Fourier transform of the short-pulse response (solid curve). Figure (b) above shows such an InGaAs p-i-n photodiode. Types of Detectors?-rays Ultraviolet Infrared Microwaves X-rays Visible mm Radio 10-10 10-8 10-6 10-4 10-2 1 102 104 Wavelength(cm) Photodiodes BIB detectors Photo-conduc tors Photo-emissive devices Schottky diodes First Photodetector ? Photodetectors may be used in different configurations. The development of InGaAs-based MSM photodetectors, suitable for lightwave systems operating in the range 1.3-1.6 μm, started in the late 1980s, with most progress made during the 1990s. The depletion-layer width depends on the acceptor and donor concentrations and can be controlled through them. The gain-bandwidth limitation of InGaAs APDs results primarily from using the InP material system for the generation of secondary electron-hole pairs. Next, some theoretical aspects and simulations are discussed. Construction of PIN Photodiode. Single sensors may detect overall light levels. The resulting current flow constitutes the photodiode response to the incident optical power in accordance with the equation we derived earlier. By 2002, the use of a traveling-wave configuration resulted in a GaAs-based device operating near 1.3 μm with a bandwidth > 230 GHz. Photodetectors, also called photosensors, are sensors of light or other electromagnetic radiation. Question: Q3(a) [7] ( Define The Photodetector, And What Are The Five Characteristics Of A Photodetectors Useful For Fiber Optic Communication? The RC time constant τRC can be written as. Here, we proposed a hybrid BP/lead sulfide quantum dot photodetector with a cascade-type energy band structure, which can greatly improve the performance of this photodetector compared with a single-layer absorber. The most successful design for InGaAs APDs uses a superlatttice structure for the multiplication region of a SAM APD. Because of a valence-band step of about 0.4 eV, holes generated in the InGaAs layer are trapped at the heterojunction interface and are considerably slowed before they reach the multiplication region (InP layer). μm for photodiodes that use direct-bandgap semiconductors, such as InGaAs. A particularly useful design, shown below, is known as reach-through APD because the depletion layer reaches to the contact layer through the absorption and multiplication regions. This layer is referred to as the multiplication layers, since secondary electron-hole pairs are generated here through impact ionization. It is even possible to grade the composition of InGaAsP over a region of 10-100 nm thickness. [17], sensors of light or other electromagnetic energy, "Study of residual background carriers in midinfrared InAs/GaSb superlattices for uncooled detector operation", "Modeling sources of nonlinearity in a simple pin photodetector", "Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology - photodetectors, photodiodes, phototransistors, pyroelectric photodetectors, array, powermeter, noise", "PDA10A(-EC) Si Amplified Fixed Gain Detector User Manual", "A Review of the Pinned Photodiode for CCD and CMOS Image Sensors", "Research finds "tunable" semiconductors will allow better detectors, solar cells", Fundamentals of Photonics: Module on Optical Detectors and Human Vision, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Photodetector&oldid=996523202, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from January 2020, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from January 2020, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles lacking reliable references from March 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Thermal: Photons cause electrons to transition to mid-gap states then decay back to lower bands, inducing. APD photodetectors come in different types regarding application requirements, which can be suitable in a specific circumstance: Photomultipliers. The avalanche process is initiated by electrons that enter the gain region of thickness d at x = 0. In such SAGCM APDs, the InP multiplication layer is undoped, while the InP charge layer is heavily n-doped. GaAs-based MSM photodetectors were developed throughout the 1980s and exhibit excellent operating characteristics. Figure (b) above shows the design of an InGaAs APD with the SAGM structure. Such APDs are suitable for making 10-Gb/s optical receivers. This value was increased to 100 GHz in 1991 by using a charge region between the grading and multiplication regions. As αh > αe for InP, the APD is design such that the holes initiate the avalanche process in an n-type InP layer, and kA is defined as kA = αe/αh. Semiconductor photodetectors, commonly referred to as photodiodes, are the predominant types of photodetectors used in optical communication systems because of their small size, fast detection speed, and high detection efficiency. Filterless narrowband response organic photodetectors (OPDs) present a great challenge due to the broad absorption range of organic semiconducting materials. Photoconductors represent the simplest conceivable type of photodetector: they consist of a finite-length semiconductor layer with an ohmic contact at each end (Figure 1.1). The device also has superior sensing and imaging capabilities. where M0 = M(0) is the low-frequency gain and τe is the effective transit time that depends on the ionization coefficient ratio kA = αh/αe. [16], In 2014 a technique for extending semiconductor-based photodetector's frequency range to longer, lower-energy wavelengths. Two approaches have been used to meet these somewhat conflicting design requirements. If we replace ih by I - ie, we obtain, In general, αe and αh are x dependent if the electric field across the gain region is nonuniform. There are a number of performance metrics, also called figures of merit, by which photodetectors are characterized and compared[2][3]. Si QDs cause an increase of the built-in potential of the graphene/Si Schottky junction while reducing the optical reflection of the photodetector. The quantum efficiency η can be made almost 100% by using an InGaAs layer 4-5 μm thick. (ii) List Two Types Of Photodiodes Commonly Used In Optical Communication Systems. Nov 28, 2020, Dispersion in Fibers Holes accelerate in the charge layer because of a strong electric field, but the generation of secondary electron-hole pairs takes place in the undoped InP layer. They are used when the amount of optical power that can be spared for the receiver is limited. The responsivity can be increased by increasing W so that the quantum efficiency η approaches 100%. Similar to the structures of … However, the response time also increases, as it takes longer for carriers to drift across the depletion region. However, the ratio of the widths of the InP to InGaAs layers varies from zero near the absorbing region to almost infinity near the multiplication region. In essence, the depletion region extends throughout the i-region, and its width W can be controlled by changing the middle-layer thickness. This relation shows the trade-off between the APD gain M0 and the bandwidth Δf (speed versus sensitivity). Indeed, modern p-n photodiodes are capable of operating at bit rates of up to 40 Gb/s. For indirect-bandgap semiconductors such as Si and Ge, typically W must be in the range 20-50 μm to ensure a reasonable quantum efficiency. Such APDs are called SAGM APDs, where SAGM indicates, Most APDs use an absorbing layer thick enough (about 1 μm) that the quantum efficiency exceeds 50%. By 2000, such an InP/InGaAs photodetector exhibited a bandwidth of 310 GHz in the 1.55-μm spectral region. The use of such a structure within a FP cavity should provide a p-i-n photodiode with a high bandwidth and high efficiency. For lightwave systems operating in the wavelength range of 1.3-1.6 μm, Ge or InGaAs APDs must be used. As early as 1987, a SAGM APD exhibited a gain-bandwidth product MΔf = 70 GHz for M > 12. Since the middle layer consists of nearly intrinsic material, such a structure is referred to as the p-i-n photodiode. With our comprehensive testing and direct NIST traceability our low power photodiode sensors provide measurement results you can trust when measuring optical power from free-space and fiber-optic sources. The quantity M in the equation above refers to the average APD gain. The thickness of the absorbing layer affects the transit time τ. μm, and a rise time of about 16 ps. Some common and popular types of photodetectors are photodiodes, photoresistors, phototransistors and photomultipliers. The performance of waveguide photodiodes can be improved further by adopting an electrode structure designed to support traveling electrical waves with matching impedance to avoid reflections. Such large fields can be realized by applying a high voltage (~ 100 V) to the APD. The analysis is considerably simplified if we assume a uniform electric field and treat αe and αh as constants. Most APDs use an absorbing layer thick enough (about 1 μm) that the quantum efficiency exceeds 50%. Solar cells convert some of the light energy absorbed into electrical energy. A PN junction photodiode is made of two layers namely p-type and n-type semiconductor whereas PIN photodiode is made of three layers namely p-type, n-type and intrinsic semiconductor. All types of photodetectors of practical importance covering the spectral range from UV to far IR are considered, first treating singe-point devices and then their image counterparts. Working of PIN Photodiode. A hybrid approach in which a Si multiplication layer is incorporated next to an InGaAs absorption layer may be useful provided the heterointerface problems can be overcome. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made through the so-called staircase APDs, in which the InGaAsP layer is compositionally graded to form a sawtooth kind of structure in the energy-band diagram that looks like a staircase under reverse bias. Photodetectors may be classified by their mechanism for detection: The current requirement translates into a minimum power requirement through Pin = Ip/Rd. In fact, both of them can be reduced significantly by using a thin absorbing layer (~ 0.1 μm), resulting in improved APDs provided that a high quantum efficiency can be maintained. The planar structure of MSM photodetectors is also suitable for monolithic integration. The resulting flow of current is proportional to the incident optical power. The diffusive component of the detector current is eliminated completely in such a heterostructure photodiode simply because photons are absorbed only inside the depletion region. Fax: 510-319-9876 The magnitude of dark current depends on factors such as temperature, type of the photosensitive material, bias voltage, active area, gain, and more 3. Such APDs are quite suitable for making a compact 10-Gb/s APD receiver. The bandwidth of such waveguide photodiodes is limited by τRC, which can be decreased by controlling the waveguide cross-section-area. In a GaAs-based implementation of this idea, a bandwidth of 172 GHz with 45% quantum efficiency was realized in a traveling-wave photodetector designed with a 1-μm-wide waveguide. Because of its intrinsic nature, the middle i-layer offers a high resistance, and most of the voltage drop occurs across it. In 1998, a 1.55-μm MSM photodetector exhibited a bandwidth of 78 GHz. A reverse-biased p-n junction consists of a region, known as the depletion region, that is essentially devoid of free charge carriers and where a large built-in electric field opposes flow of electrons from the n-side to the p-side (and of holes from p to n). As shown in (b), optical power decreases exponentially as the incident light is absorbed inside the depletion region. The main reason for a relatively poor performance of InGaAs APDs is related to the comparable numerical values of the impact-ionization coefficients αe and αh. Such an APD has an extremely slow response and a relatively small bandwidth. As the name implies, the avalanche photodiode uses the avalanche process to provide additional performance, although the avalanche process does have some disadvantages. Nov 01, 2020, 269 Mavis Drive One problem with the SAM APD is related to the large bandgap difference between InP (Eg = 1.35 eV) and InGaAs (Eg = 0.75 eV). Part one covers materials, detector types, and devices, and includes discussion of silicon photonics, detectors based on reduced dimensional charge systems, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanowires, low-temperature grown gallium arsenide, plasmonic, Si photomultiplier tubes, and organic photodetectors, while part two focuses on important applications of photodetectors, including microwave photonics, … 50 % assume a uniform electric field and treat αe and αh, the optimum value of depends... To provide an internal current gain, the middle layer consists of a MSM photodetector a! Specific applications are included a longitudinal mode, such an APD has an slow. Barrier layer multiplexing ( WDM ) applications remains constant at every point inside the region! 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