Analysis of the influence of dark current on the performance of optical receivers employing superlattice APDs

O’Reilly, J.J.; Fyath, R. S.

doi:10.1049/ip-j.1988.0024

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…O'Reilly [28] expanded this framework to include analytical models of the gain and excess noise statistics of two-carrier ionization originating from arbitrary discrete locations in a cascaded discrete-gain-stage multiplier.…”

Section: B Random Spatial Origination Of Dark Ionization Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number of possible occurrences an electron originating at the j th gain stage can ionize while moving to the n + contact is J -j, and the number of possible ionizations the initiating hole can undergo as it drifts to the p + contact is j -1. The average gain, <m j >, associated with the electron-hole pair initiating at each stage is thus given by [28] < m j >= M J…”

Section: B Random Spatial Origination Of Dark Ionization Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discrimination of Photon- and Dark-Initiated Signals in Multiple Gain Stage APD Photoreceivers

Williams

Ramírez

Hayat

et al. 2013

IEEE J. Electron Devices Soc.

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We demonstrate the ability of linear mode single carrier multiplication (SCM) avalanche photodiode (APD) -based optical receivers to discriminate single-photon-initiated avalanche events from dark-current-initiated events. Because of their random spatial origin in discrete regions of the depletion region, in the SCM APD the dark-generated carriers multiply differently than the photon-generated carriers. This causes different count distributions and necessitates different statistical descriptions of the signal contributions from photon-and dark-originating impulse responses. To include dark carriers in the performance models of the SCM APD, we considered the influence of the spatial origin of the ionization chains on a receiver's noise performance over the times the optical pulse is integrated by the receiver's decision circuits. We compare instantaneous (timeresolved) numeric and pseudo-DC analytical models to measured SCM APD data. It is shown that it is necessary to consider both the distribution of spatial origin and the instantaneous properties of the ionization chains to describe statistically an SCM APD receiver. The ability of SCM APD receivers to discriminate single photon events from single dark events is demonstrated, and the effective gain and excess noise contributions of the light-and dark-initiated avalanche events and their influence on receiver sensitivity and signal-to-noise characteristics are shown.

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Section: B Random Spatial Origination Of Dark Ionization Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: B Random Spatial Origination Of Dark Ionization Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrimination of Photon- and Dark-Initiated Signals in Multiple Gain Stage APD Photoreceivers

Williams

Ramírez

Hayat

et al. 2013

IEEE J. Electron Devices Soc.

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show abstract

“…O'Reilly and Fyath address the issue of multiplied shot noise on dark current generated throughout the multiplier of an APD by finding an effective excess noise factor that gives the correct variance when applied to the gain-normalized terminal dark current. That is, they treat the dark current as though primary dark current were generated in the absorber, subject to the same gain as the photocurrent [14]. However, approximating the dark current pulse height distribution as a Gaussian distribution with a variance determined by O'Reilly's effective F does not work well for single primary carrier injection.…”

Section: A Multiplied Signal In An Scm Apdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To achieve high gain and low excess noise, superlattice, graded-gap and staircase APDs [11], [12], [13], [14] have been proposed. These APD designs generally use multiple, discrete heterostructured gain stages to promote preferential ionization of one carrier over the other, so that significant enhancement of the effective hole-electron ionization ratio, k, is made possible.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Instantaneous Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Performance of Multi-Gain-Stage APD Photoreceivers

Williams

Ramírez

Hayat

et al. 2013

IEEE J. Electron Devices Soc.

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We describe the use of analytical and numerical models of a multi-gain-stage single-carrier multiplication (SCM) avalanche photodiode (APD) to generate time-resolved receiver operating-characteristic (ROC) curves. First, pseudo-DC analytic models of discrete multi-stage APDs are used to generate the statistical properties of the SCM APD necessary for ROC analysis. Next, numerical models are used to develop the joint probability density function (PDF) of the SCM APD gain and avalanche buildup time as a function of the device structure, material properties and local electric fields. The instantaneous (time-resolved) carrier count distributions resulting from photonand dark-initiated impact ionization chains are used to calculate the mean and variance of the currents induced in the circuits of the photoreceiver over the integration times of the detection event. Last, autocorrelation functions are generated to allow the parameters of the signal, the noise and the signal embedded in noise-which are necessary for ROC hypothesis testing-to be calculated for the instances of the impulse response. It is shown that time-resolved ROC analysis of an APD photoreceiver, which includes the instantaneous properties of photon-and dark-initiated avalanche events, allows for better optimization of photoreceiver performance than does non-time-resolved ROC analysis.

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“…In a reverse biased p-i-n junction diode, dark current is generally due to generation-recombination events occuring within the depletion region of the diode. O'Reilly et al [38] and Fyath et al [39] have examined the noise performance of APDs with the inclusion of the dark current. Due to the fact that thermally generated EHPs can arise at any spatial location within the device, the randomness of the collected current is thereby increased.…”

Section: ) Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invited Review: Superlattice and multiquantum well avalanche photodetectors: physics, concepts and performance

Brennan

Haralson

2000

Superlattices and Microstructures

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Analysis of the influence of dark current on the performance of optical receivers employing superlattice APDs

Cited by 7 publications

References 35 publications

Discrimination of Photon- and Dark-Initiated Signals in Multiple Gain Stage APD Photoreceivers

Discrimination of Photon- and Dark-Initiated Signals in Multiple Gain Stage APD Photoreceivers

Instantaneous Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Performance of Multi-Gain-Stage APD Photoreceivers

Invited Review: Superlattice and multiquantum well avalanche photodetectors: physics, concepts and performance

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