2-picosecond, GaAs photodiode optoelectronic circuit for optical correlation applications

Abstract

An ultrafast GaAs Schottky photodiode is monolithically integrated with a microwave detector. By using this new optoelectronic circuit in place of a nonlinear crystal in an optical correlation setup, the high-speed photodiode can measure laser pulse durations without using expensive sampling oscilloscopes. Key advantages are that this circuit works over a broad wavelength range and at low peak optical powers. The correlated temporal response of the circuit is measured to be 1.9 ps full width at half maximum. Due to its wavelength flexibility, cross correlation with different lasers may be performed with this single device.