Wayne, M.
, Bienfang, J.
and Migdall, A.
(2021),
Low-noise photon counting above 100 million counts per second with a high-efficiency reach-through single-photon avalanche diode system, Applied Physics Letters, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=931606
(Accessed October 9, 2025)
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Low-noise photon counting above 100 million counts per second with a high-efficiency reach-through single-photon avalanche diode system
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Abstract
We demonstrate a method that allows a high-efficiency single-photon-avalanche diode (SPAD) with a thick absorption region (> 10 µm) to count single photons at rates significantly higher than previously demonstrated. We apply large (> 30 V) AC bias gates to the SPAD at 1 GHz and detect minute avalanches with a discrimination threshold of 5(1) mV by means of radio-frequency (RF) interferometry. We measure a reduction by a factor of ≈ 500 in the average charge per avalanche when compared to operation in its traditional active-quenching module, and a relative increase of >19 % in detection efficiency at 850 nm. The reduction in charge strongly suppresses self- heating effects in the diode that can degrade performance at high avalanche rates. We show that the single-photon detection system maintains high efficiency at count rates exceeding 108 s-1.Citation
Applied Physics Letters
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Journals
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Keywords
single-photon detector, quantum networking, harmonic subtraction, single-photon avalanche diodes
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Created March 29, 2021, Updated October 12, 2021