Extended dynamical range solid state photon counter

Ivan Prochazka; Karel Hamal; Josef Blazej; Georg Kirchner; Franz Koidl

doi:10.1117/12.304499

8 April 1998 Extended dynamical range solid state photon counter

Ivan Prochazka, Karel Hamal, Josef Blazej, Georg Kirchner, Franz Koidl

Proceedings Volume 3287, Photodetectors: Materials and Devices III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.304499
Event: Optoelectronics and High-Power Lasers and Applications, 1998, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The paper describes the new achievements in an all solid state photon counting technique with picosecond resolution. The extended dynamical range has been achieved: the dependence of the detection delay on the detected signal strength - the time walk -has been compensated within several orders of optical signal strength. The principal application of the detector is the millimeter resolution satellite laser ranging. The detector is based on silicon avalanche photodiode pulse biased above its break voltage. The external gating and avalanche active quenching electronics is used. The time walk of the avalanche photodiode is of the order of hundreds of picoseconds in the dynamical range of single to one hundred photons input signal strengths. The additional electronics circuit has been developed to compensate for the time walk: the input optical signal strength influences the avalanche current build up time,the maximum build up time difference is 20 psec within the dynamical range 1:1000. This time difference is sensed, stretched by the factor of ten. The stretched time interval is applied, with the negative sign, as a correction to the detector propagation delay. The detector ultimate timing resolution, temporal stability, dynamical range and its dependence on the input laser pulse length have been investigated in detail. The fieldable version of the detector is been used for satellite laser ranging purposes. The timing resolution of the entire detector better than 20 picoseconds r.m.s., the maximum dynamical range > 1000:1 with the item walk bellow +/- psec have ben achieved, the results are presented. The additional applications in spectroscopy, biophysics, rangefinding and fiber optics may be considered.

Citation Download Citation

Ivan Prochazka, Karel Hamal, Josef Blazej, Georg Kirchner, and Franz Koidl "Extended dynamical range solid state photon counter", Proc. SPIE 3287, Photodetectors: Materials and Devices III, (8 April 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.304499

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available