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Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode ladar receiver performance characteristics and detection statistics
Philip Gatt1, Steven Johnson, Terry Nichols
1Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, 135 South Taylor Avenue, Louisville, Colorado 80027, USA. phil.gatt@lmco.com
Applied Optics
|June 12, 2009
Summary
Investigating Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (GM-APD) performance reveals how dead time impacts signal photon detection efficiency (SPDE). Reduced dead time improves linearity and effective quantum efficiency for better ladar metrics.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Optoelectronics
- Quantum Optics
- Lidar Technology
Background:
- Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) are crucial for photon counting.
- Detector dead time significantly influences GM-APD performance and signal detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To theoretically investigate GM-APD performance based on dead time.
- To develop a model capturing quantum fluctuations and speckle noise effects.
Main Methods:
- Developed a theory for GM-APD mean response and arm probability.
- Derived signal photon detection efficiency (SPDE) as a function of input flux and dead time.
- Validated theoretical results with Monte Carlo simulations.
Main Results:
- Established SPDE as a key metric dependent on input flux, arm probability, and dead time.
- Showed GM-APDs behave linearly with zero dead time, simplifying to effective quantum efficiency.
- Demonstrated convergence to infinite dead-time theories for long dead times.
Conclusions:
- GM-APD detection statistics approach linear photon counting at low flux levels.
- Higher flux levels degrade SPDE and detection probability due to reduced arm probability.
- The developed theory provides a framework for optimizing GM-APD ladar performance.
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