Ultra low noise photodetectors with internal discrete amplification

Abstract

We have designed and developed a new family of photodetectors with Internal Discrete Amplification (IDA) mechanism. These photodetectors can operate in linear (analog) detection mode with gain-bandwidth product up to 5 . 10 14 and few-photon sensitivity as well as in the photon counting mode with count rates up to 10 8 cps. Some of their key performance characteristics exceed those of photomultiplier tube (PMT) and avalanche photodiode (APD) devices. The measured parameters of the detectors are gain > 10 5 , excess noise factor as low as 1.02, maximum count rate > 10 8 counts/s, and rise/fall time < 300 ps.