Single-photon counting at 950–1300 nm: using InGaAsP photocathode–GaAs avalanche diode hybrid photomultiplier tubes

Real-time 3D flash ladar imaging through GPU data processing

“…With a gain of 10, their reported 6-, 8-, and 10-stage APDs show impulse response times of 0.45 ns, 0.9 ns, and 1.1 ns, respectively. Another example of a high sensitivity multiple gain stage detector is the intensified photodiode (IPD) that uses a hybrid photomultiplier tube with a transfer electron (TE) InGaAsP photocathode to convert incident photons into electrons and then a backend GaAs avalanche photodiode to provide a two stage electron gain factor of about 10,000 with reported 25% photon detection efficiency [6]. This so-called hybrid photomultiplier tube (HPMT) boasts photon counting performance and high maximum count rate that reaches 100 Mcts/s with the possibility of using an APD anode array backend to create a multi-element detector [9].…”

“…These different technologies can be classified into three distinct categories: single-pulse sampling, single-event single-photon sensitive, and multiple-event single-photon sensitive detector technologies. Examples of these different types of flash ladar detector technologies are the compact 3D flash ladar video camera with 128×128 APD pixel array array described in references [2,3], 32×32 MIT Lincoln Laboratory Geiger-mode APD [4,5], and the intensified photodiode (IPD) tube [6], respectively. Figure 1 illustrates the different operations of these three types of detectors on a per pixel basis using a three layered target.…”

Low-Timing-Jitter Near-Infrared Single-Photon-Sensitive 16-Channel Intensified-Photodiode Detector

“…A 2.62D" 2.5 µm lattice matched InGaAsP absorber layer with a mobility of 3000 cm 2 /V−s, gives a photocathode timing jitter of 307 ps. A single-channel device [4] with this geometry had an overall timing jitter of ~ 500 ps with 26% quantum efficiency (QE). A four-channel IPD [2] with similar timing jitter was previously demonstrated.…”

“…Further features include low dark noise, large dynamic range for full analog pulse received waveform preservation and photon number resolution. Operating principles and performance results of previous IPDs have been reported for use at visible [3,5], and near-infrared [4,5,6], wavelengths.…”

Performance of the GLAS Space Lidar Receiver through its Seven-Year Space Mission

“…The Si APD single photon counting modules (SPCM) used for the 532 nm aerosol channel [6] showed no change in responsivity but a steady increase in dark count rates from radiation damage, whether they were powered on or off. Warming up the SPCMs to 23°C for more than a month near the end of the mission did not change the rate of degradation.…”