What is SPAD detector?

The term Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) defines a class of photodetectors able to detect low intensity signals (down to the single photon) and to signal the time of the photon arrival with high temporal resolution (few tens of picoseconds).

What is a SPAD array?

A single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is a solid-state photodetector within the same family as photodiodes and avalanche photodiodes (APDs), while also being fundamentally linked with basic diode behaviours. A SPAD is able to detect single photons providing short duration trigger pulses that can be counted.

What is a dark count?

The dark count rate is the average rate of registered counts without any incident light. This determines the minimum count rate at which the signal is dominantly caused by real photons. The false detection events are mostly of thermal origin and can therefore be strongly suppressed by using a cooled type of detector.

What is APD Geiger mode?

The Geiger mode means that the diode is operated slightly above the breakdown threshold voltage, where a single electron–hole pair (generated by absorption of a photon or by a thermal fluctuation) can trigger a strong avalanche.

How does an avalanche photodiode work?

An avalanche photodiode (APD) is a highly sensitive semiconductor photodiode detector that exploits the photoelectric effect to convert light into electricity. From a functional standpoint, they can be regarded as the semiconductor analog of photomultipliers.

What is a quench resistor?

The quenching resistor will divide the bias on the APD and avalanche was quenched as the voltage dropt on the device is reduced. Dark count rate (DCR) and photo count rate (PCR) were obtained by capturing the voltage pulses on the sampling resistor (500 Ω) with a high speed oscilloscope.

What is a Quanta Image Sensor?

Quanta Image Sensor (QIS) is a single-photon detector designed for extremely low light imaging conditions. Majority of the existing QIS prototypes are monochrome based on single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD).

What is after pulsing?

Consequently, we use an ipso-facto definition of an “afterpulse” as any pulse in addition to and following an isolated detection event and its subsequent dead time, regardless of its etiology. This behavior has been extensively studied due to its importance in semiconductor physics in general.

What is avalanche photodiode in laser?

An avalanche photodiode (APD) is a highly sensitive semiconductor photodiode detector that exploits the photoelectric effect to convert light into electricity. APD arrays are becoming commercially available, also lightning detection and optical SETI may be future applications.

What is photodiode Byjus?

A photodiode is a PN-junction diode that consumes light energy to produce an electric current. They are also called a photo-detector, a light detector, and a photo-sensor. Photodiodes are designed to work in reverse bias condition. Typical photodiode materials are Silicon, Germanium and Indium gallium arsenide.

Where is the gate signal in a SPAD detector?

The Gate signal, which thus represents the true, non-masked, applied Gate, is buffered and replicated at the control unit front panel: the VALID GATE output. Module Signals: pulse generator (GATE SYNC), pulses at the SPAD detector (GATE) and photon output signal (PHOTON OUTPUT).

What is the detection efficiency of the τ SPAD?

Detection efficiency up to 70%. The τ-SPAD features an extremely high photon detection efficiency of typically 70 % at 670 nm and can be used to detect single photons over the 400 nm to 1100 nm wavelength range.

What are single photon avalanche diode ( SPAD ) arrays?

Abstract. Single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arrays are solid-state detectors that offer imaging capabilities at the level of individual photons, with unparalleled photon counting and time-resolved performance.

Which is the most important parameter of SPAD 7?

A number of parameters are used to describe the performance of a single SPAD device 7. The most important is the photon detection probability (PDP), which represents the avalanche probability of the device in response to photon absorption at a given wavelength.