Coherent sensing performance comparison of framed and asynchronous GMAPD arrays

Area of Science:

• Photon detection
• Optical sensing technologies
• Semiconductor device physics

Background:

• Single photon counting Geiger mode avalanche photodiode (GMAPD) arrays are crucial for high-resolution 3D ranging.
• These detectors possess high gain and bandwidth, making them suitable for coherent sensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of asynchronous and framed GMAPD arrays in coherent sensing.
• To analyze the impact of system parameters on detector performance.
• To define metrics for evaluating missed detection opportunities.

Main Methods:

• Performance comparison of asynchronous and framed GMAPD arrays under varying system parameters.
• Development of expressions for arm probability and blocking loss.
• Analysis of detection mechanisms and loss factors.

Main Results:

• Asynchronous GMAPD arrays demonstrate reduced blocking loss compared to framed arrays.
• Framed GMAPD arrays are more susceptible to saturation due to simultaneous pixel resetting.
• Quantification of missed detection opportunities for both architectures.

Conclusions:

• Asynchronous GMAPD arrays are more advantageous for coherent sensing applications.
• Understanding blocking loss and arm probability is key to optimizing GMAPD performance.
• The choice of readout architecture significantly impacts coherent sensing system efficiency.