Free-running single-photon detection based on a negative feedback InGaAs APD

Author： Lunghi Tommaso Barreiro Claudio Guinnard Olivier Houlmann Raphael Jiang Xudong Itzler Mark A. Zbinden Hugo

ISSN： 1362-3044

Source： Journal of Modern Optics, Vol.59, Iss.17, 2012-10, pp. : 1481-1488

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Abstract

InGaAs/InP-based semiconductor avalanche photodiodes are usually employed for single-photon counting at telecom wavelength. However they are affected by afterpulsing which limits the diode performance. Recently, Princeton Lightwave has commercialized a diode integrating monolithically a feedback resistor. This solution effectively quenches the avalanche and drastically reduces afterpulsing. Here, we report the development and characterization of a detector module based on this diode, implementing an active hold-off circuit which further reduces the afterpulsing and notably improves the detector performances. We demonstrate free-running operation with 600 Hz dark count rate at 10% detection efficiency. We also improved the standard double-window technique for the afterpulsing characterization. Our algorithm implemented by a FPGA allows one to put the APD in a well-defined initial condition and to measure the impact of the higher order afterpulses.