Space-qualified silicon avalanche-photodiode single-photon-counting modules

Sun, Xiaoli; Krainak, Michael A.; Abshire, James B.; Spinhirne, James D.; Trottier, Claude; Davies, Murray; Dautet, H.; Allan, Graham; Lukemire, A.; Vandiver, James C.

doi:10.1080/09500340408235276

Cited by 41 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Also, the suitability of the key detector technologies, Geiger-mode avalanche photodidode (GM-APD) arrays [32] and superconducting single photon counting detectors SSPDs [222] has not yet been established in the space environment. Si-based GM-APDs, for example, have shown sensitivity to radiation [395], and SSPDs require cooling to cryogenic temperatures, requiring a significant overhead in SWAP.…”

Section: Direct Detection-photon Countingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser communication transmitter and receiver design

Caplan

2007

J Optic Comm Rep

118

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Free-space laser communication systems have the potential to provide flexible, high-speed connectivity suitable for long-haul intersatellite and deep-space links. For these applications, power-efficient transmitter and receiver designs are essential for cost-effective implementation. State-of-the-art designs can leverage many of the recent advances in optical communication technologies that have led to global wideband fiber-optic networks with multiple Tbit/s capacities. While spectral efficiency has long been a key design parameter in the telecommunications industry, the many THz of excess channel bandwidth in the optical regime can be used to improve receiver sensitivities where photon efficiency is a design driver. Furthermore, the combination of excess bandwidth and average-power-limited optical transmitters has led to a new paradigm in transmitter and receiver design that can extend optimized performance of a single receiver to accommodate multiple data rates. This paper discusses state-of-the-art optical transmitter and receiver designs that are particularly well suited for average-power-limited photon-starved links where channel bandwidth is readily available. For comparison, relatively simple direct-detection systems used in short terrestrial or fiber optic links are discussed, but emphasis is placed on mature high-performance photon-efficient systems and commercially available technologies suitable for operation in space. The fundamental characteristics of optical sources, modulators, amplifiers, detectors, and associated noise sources are reviewed along with some of the unique properties that distinguish laser communication systems and components from their RF counterparts. Also addressed is the interplay between modulation format, transmitter waveform, and receiver design, as well as practical tradeoffs and implementation considerations that arise from using various technologies.

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Section: Direct Detection-photon Countingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser communication transmitter and receiver design

Caplan

2007

J Optic Comm Rep

118

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“…The Si-SPAD working at room temperature has good photon detection efficiency (PDE) at visible wavelengths (up to ~65%) and a PDE of ~45% at a wavelength of 842 nm and can be factory-equipped with a free-space to fiber coupler. It has been used in several established photon counting LIDAR systems [17,26] and also been verified to have space-qualified capability by NASA [26].…”

Section: Scanning Depth Imager At a Wavelength Of 842 Nmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depth imaging at kilometer range using time-correlated single-photon counting at wavelengths of 850 nm and 1560 nm

Buller¹,

McCarthy²,

Ren³

et al. 2012

SPIE Proceedings

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Active depth imaging approaches are being used in a number of emerging applications, for example in environmental sensing, manufacturing and defense. The high sensitivity and picosecond timing resolution of the time-correlated single-photon counting technique can provide distinct advantages in the trade-offs between required illumination power, range, depth resolution and data acquisition durations. These considerations must also address requirements for eye-safety, especially in applications requiring outdoor, kilometer range sensing. We present a scanning time-of-flight imager based on MHz repetition-rate pulsed illumination operating with sub-milliwatt average power. The use of a scanning mechanism permits operation with an individual, highperformance single-photon detector. The system has been used with a number of non-cooperative targets, in different weather conditions and various ambient light conditions. We consider a number of system issues, including the range ambiguity issue and scattering from multiple surfaces. The initial work was performed at wavelengths around 850 nm for convenient use with Si-based single photon avalanche diode detectors, however we will also discuss the performance at a wavelength of 1560 nm, made using superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. The use of the latter wavelength band allows access to a low-loss atmospheric window, as well as greatly reduced solar background contribution and less stringent eye safety considerations. We consider a range of optical design configurations and discuss the performance trade-offs and future directions in more detail.

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“…In order to adequately sample the narrow return pulse without excessive smoothing at low bandwidths, we specified the bandwidth through the relationship B W ∼ = k/τ L , with τ L [s] quantifying the emitted laser pulse duration and with a k factor roughly between 3 and 5. For our estimation of the CNR, we have used typical APD specifications provided by Excelitas/PerkinElmer, corresponding to models that have been employed in the GLAS laser system [82] and the WALES airborne campaign [42], notably the C30954E-DTC unit thermoelectrically cooled to −20…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Novel Satellite Mission Concept for Upper Air Water Vapour, Aerosol and Cloud Observations Using Integrated Path Differential Absorption LiDAR Limb Sounding

et al. 2012

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We propose a new satellite mission to deliver high quality measurements of upper air water vapour. The concept centres around a LiDAR in limb sounding by occultation geometry, designed to operate as a very long path system for differential absorption measurements. We present a preliminary performance analysis with a system sized to send 75 mJ pulses at 25 Hz at four wavelengths close to 935 nm, to up to 5 microsatellites in a counter-rotating orbit, carrying retroreflectors characterized by a reflected beam divergence of roughly twice the emitted laser beam divergence of 15 µrad. This provides water vapour profiles with a vertical sampling of 110 m; preliminary calculations suggest that the system could detect concentrations of less than 5 ppm. A secondary payload of a fairly conventional medium resolution multispectral radiometer allows wide-swath cloud and aerosol imaging. The total weight and power of the system are estimated at 3 tons and 2,700 W respectively. This novel concept presents significant challenges, including the performance of the lasers in space, the tracking between the main spacecraft and the retroreflectors, the refractive effects of turbulence, and the design of the telescopes to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio for the high precision measurements. The mission concept was conceived at the Alpbach Summer School 2010.

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Space-qualified silicon avalanche-photodiode single-photon-counting modules

Cited by 41 publications

References 11 publications

Laser communication transmitter and receiver design

Laser communication transmitter and receiver design

Depth imaging at kilometer range using time-correlated single-photon counting at wavelengths of 850 nm and 1560 nm

A Novel Satellite Mission Concept for Upper Air Water Vapour, Aerosol and Cloud Observations Using Integrated Path Differential Absorption LiDAR Limb Sounding

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