Complete single-photon counting and timing module in a microchip

A complete module for single-photon counting and timing is demonstrated in a single chip. Features comparable with or better than commercially available macroscopic modules are obtained by integration of an active-quenching and active-reset circuit in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technolo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inOptics letters Vol. 30; no. 11; p. 1327
Main Authors Zappa, Franco, Tisa, Simone, Gulinatti, Angelo, Gallivanoni, Andrea, Cova, Sergio
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.2005
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Summary:A complete module for single-photon counting and timing is demonstrated in a single chip. Features comparable with or better than commercially available macroscopic modules are obtained by integration of an active-quenching and active-reset circuit in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology together with a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD). The integrated SPAD has a 12-microm-diameter sensitive area and operates with an overvoltage above breakdown adjustable up to 20 V. With a 5-V overvoltage the photon detection efficiency peaks above 40% around 500 nm, and the dark-counting rate is lower than 600 counts/s at room temperature. The overall counting dead time is 33 ns.
ISSN:0146-9592
DOI:10.1364/OL.30.001327