Characterisation Of Avalanche Photodiodes For LIDAR Atmospheric Return Signal Detectors

C. W. Antill Jr.; R. M. Holloway

doi:10.1117/12.948285

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7 December 1988 Characterisation Of Avalanche Photodiodes For LIDAR Atmospheric Return Signal Detectors

C. W. Antill Jr., R. M. Holloway

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Proceedings Volume 0972, Infrared Technology XIV; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.948285
Event: 32nd Annual International Technical Symposium on Optical and Optoelectronic Applied Science and Engineering, 1988, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

NASA Langley Research Center has initiated several programs to develop space flight and aircraft LIDAR instruments. These instruments will be used for scientific investigation of aerosols and trace gas constituents in the troposphere and stratosphere. Extensive analysis shows that avalanche photodiodes have definite advantages over photomultiplier tubes for given laser wavelengths and return signal amplitudes. For this class of signal returns, avalanche photodiodes have improved quantum efficiency, signal to noise ratio, linearity and overload recovery. These features help minimize the systematic errors caused by the detector. Laboratory measurements of the avalanche photodiodes were conducted to collect data for system performance analysis. This data was used to maximize system signal to noise ratios, and provided electronic and other useful design parameters. Tests were conducted on approximately ten avalanche photodiodes to characterize noise, dark currents, overload, and gain versus bias relationships. This paper presents the results and conclusions of the above analysis.

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C. W. Antill Jr. and R. M. Holloway "Characterisation Of Avalanche Photodiodes For LIDAR Atmospheric Return Signal Detectors", Proc. SPIE 0972, Infrared Technology XIV, (7 December 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.948285

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