Ultra-compact CMOS single photon detector

A. Rochas; A. Pauchard; L. Monat; A. Matteo; P. Trinkler; R. Thew; R. Ribordy

doi:10.1117/12.692604

3 November 2006 Ultra-compact CMOS single photon detector

A. Rochas, A. Pauchard, L. Monat, A. Matteo, P. Trinkler, R. Thew, R. Ribordy

Proceedings Volume 6372, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques; 63720N (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.692604
Event: Optics East 2006, 2006, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Abstract

A compact single photon detector designed for the detection in the visible spectral range is presented. A fast active quenching circuit is integrated on the chip in order to operate the APD in single photon counting mode. The sensor consists of a 0.8x0.8mm² silicon chip mounted on a thermo-electric cooler and packaged in a standard TO5 header, bringing the degree of miniaturization to a level never reached. Reliability, compactness, low power and low cost make the detector essential for portable devices, implantable sensors, fluorescence lifetime spectrometers or laser scanning microscopes. In addition, the sensor exhibits best-in-class timing resolution of 50ps. The photon detection probability peaks in the blue/green at almost 35% and is limited to a few percents in the red and near-infrared regions. When cooled down to -10°C, the 50μm diameter diode achieves a dark count rate lower than 10Hz. The afterpulsing is maintained to a low level, below 1%. The fast active quenching circuit leads to a dead time of 50ns allowing a measurement frequency of up to 20MHz. The detector, unlike legacy photon counters, does not suffer from memory effects and is not damaged by ambient light.

Citation Download Citation

A. Rochas, A. Pauchard, L. Monat, A. Matteo, P. Trinkler, R. Thew, and R. Ribordy "Ultra-compact CMOS single photon detector", Proc. SPIE 6372, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques, 63720N (3 November 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.692604

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