Photon counting 1060-nm hybrid photomultiplier with high quantum efficiency

Abstract

An ultra-low-noise, high-speed, hybrid photomultiplier tube sensitive from 900 to 1300 nm optical wavelengths is described. The device, also known as an intensified photodiode (IPD), uses an active transferred electron (TE) photocathode with the quaternary In :69 Ga :31 As :67 P :33 photo-absorbing layer and a GaAs Schottky avalanche photodiode (SAPD) anode. The detector has a combined electron bombarded and avalanche gain of over 15 000 which is sufficient to overcome preamplifier noise and provide high internal counting efficiency of approximately 85%. At an active cathode bias of 1.5 V the room temperature cathode dark countw rate is 6:67 2 10 5 /s. Cooling reduces this substantially corresponding to a dark current activation energy almost equal to the bandgap of the In:69Ga:31As:67P:33 layer.

Comparison of 16-channel laser photoreceivers for topographic mapping

“…Further features include low dark noise, large dynamic range for full analog pulse received wavefonn preservation and photon number resolution. Operating principles and perfonnance results of previous IPOs have been reported for use at visible [7], and near-infrared [8,9,10], wavelengths. In recent work, we produced a 16-channel IPD with an InGaAsP photocathode for use at 1064 nm wavelength.…”

Study of Fast, Near-Infrared Photodetectors for the ITER Core LIDAR Thomson Scattering

“…[3] This detection mechanism gives values of QE in the NIR comparable to those of the best visible photocathodes (Fig. [5][6][7][8][9] This electron bombardment (EB) gain mechanism has a typical excess noise factor k^= 1.1, thus providing the cleanest amplification so far available for photoemissive detectors. This technology has been pioneered by the US company lntevac [4] that at present provides TE hybrid photodiodes suitable for photon counting, two active laser imagers for (military) night vision apphcations, and an imaging camera for NIR spectroscopy.…”

Optical Communications from Planetary Distances

“…In collaboration with industry and academia we have tested and developed several promising technologies, although each presently has drawbacks. The most viable technology presently commercially available is the InGaAs(P) intensified photodiode (IPD) [16] . The IPD was validated to photon count in the near-infrared with high efficiency (> 40% SPDE) and operate with minimal cooling (220K) during the early phases of the now cancelled Mars Laser Communications Demonstration (MLCD) [17].…”