Abstract. We present a detailed design study for a novel solidstate focal plane array of silicon avalanche photodiodes (APDs), with each detector in the array
IntroductionThere is a growing need in science and industry for largescale detector arrays capable of imaging with high sensitivity and high speed near room temperature, over a wide range of natural illumination conditions from direct sunlight to a cloudy moonless night. Existing solid-state camera technology does not enable imaging in the visible spectrum over such a wide dynamic range near room temperature. In this design study, we demonstrate through detailed calculation means that a novel back-illuminated, wide dynamic range avalanche photodiode ͑APD͒ device design will enable imaging with high sensitivity near room temperature at −30°C, over the full range of natural illumination conditions from the AM 0 in space orbit around Earth, to ultralow light levels when the illuminance at the camera lens E l = 0.0001 lux ͓lumens/ m 2 ͔, as on a cloudy moonless night when far from city lights. The high pixel sensitivity is achieved using a compact readout circuit, ca-