Improved multiplexed Infrared Single Photon Detectors

Published

August 11, 2008

Author(s)

Sergey V. Polyakov, Alan L. Migdall, V Schettini, Ivo P. Degiovanni, Giorgio Brida, F Piacentini

Abstract

We discuss a scheme for a photon-counting detection system that overcomes the difficulties of photon-counting at high rates at telecom wavelengths. Our method uses an array of N detectors and a 1-by-N optical switch with a control circuit to direct input light to live detectors. We conclude that in addition to detection deadtime reduction, the multiplexed switch also reduces so-called trigger deadtime, common to infrared photon counting detectors. By implementing the new algorithm we obtain an overall deadtime reduction of a factor of 5 when using just N=2 multiplexed detectors. In addition to deadtime reduction, our scheme reduces afterpulsing and background counts (such as dark counts). We present experimental results showing the advantage of our system as compared to passive multi-detector detection systems and our previous active multiplexing system that only reduced detection deadtime.

Proceedings Title

Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XVI

Volume

SPIE 7082

Conference Dates

August 10-14, 2008

Conference Location

San Diego, CA

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

Deadtime, Photon-Counting Detectors, Multiplexing, InGaAs, Photon Statistics

Citation

Polyakov, S. , Migdall, A. , Schettini, V. , Degiovanni, I. , Brida, G. and Piacentini, F. (2008), Improved multiplexed Infrared Single Photon Detectors, Infrared Spaceborne Remote Sensing and Instrumentation XVI, San Diego, CA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=842544 (Accessed October 3, 2024)