Development of HgCdTe single-element APDs based detectors for low flux short wave infrared applications

K. Foubert; G. Lasfargues; L. Mathieu; S. Benahmed; G. Vojetta; J. Rothman; Q. Benoît à la Guillaume; Vincent Calvo; Jérémy Picot-Clemente; Florent Le Mounier; Fabien Gibert

doi:10.1117/12.2004109

11 March 2013 Development of HgCdTe single-element APDs based detectors for low flux short wave infrared applications

K. Foubert, G. Lasfargues, L. Mathieu, S. Benahmed, G. Vojetta, J. Rothman, Q. Benoît à la Guillaume, Vincent Calvo, Jérémy Picot-Clemente, Florent Le Mounier, Fabien Gibert

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8621, Optical Components and Materials X; 86210F (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004109
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

The remarkable properties (internal gain larger than 100 and close to unity excess noise factor) of Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) HgCdTe electron-initiated Avalanche Photodiodes (e-APDs) are put to good use to demanding applications, i.e. spectroscopy and LIDAR. Knowing the requirements of both situations, we have designed specific models based on highly sensitive single elements APDs and adapted proximity electronics. On one hand, we use the e-APDs low noise equivalent power (NEP) at 180K (few fW/Hz^1/2). We simultaneously designed a specific Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA) which allows us to take advantage of the low APD NEP. The combination of both elements along with a dedicated cryostat enables direct LIDAR detection at moderate bandwidth (BW = 20 MHz) without the need for long time averaging, which is crucial in far field (≥ 5 km) analysis. One the other hand, we have optimized a low-noise and low-frequency LN₂ cooled prototype operating with an external commercial amplifier. It allows us to observe the photoluminescence of Ge nanostructures in the range 1.5-2.5 μm with a significantly increased SNR along with a reduce pump laser power. The possibility to use these detectors in the photon counting limit will be discussed in light of our recent results. In parallel, we present preliminary time response measurements performed on SWIR APD suggesting that a higher GHz BW could be reached with this type of detector. This is however subjected to optical optimization at the moment.

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K. Foubert, G. Lasfargues, L. Mathieu, S. Benahmed, G. Vojetta, J. Rothman, Q. Benoît à la Guillaume, Vincent Calvo, Jérémy Picot-Clemente, Florent Le Mounier, and Fabien Gibert "Development of HgCdTe single-element APDs based detectors for low flux short wave infrared applications", Proc. SPIE 8621, Optical Components and Materials X, 86210F (11 March 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2004109

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