InGaAs single photon avalanche detector with ultralow excess noise

An InGaAs single photon avalanche detector capable of sub-Geiger mode (Photomultiplier-tube-like) operation is reported. The device achieves a stable gain at around 10(6). The gain fluctuation is greatly suppressed through a self-quenching effect, thus an equivalent excess noise factor as low as 1.001 is achieved. In the photon counting experiment, the device is operated in the nongated mode under a dc bias. Because of its unique characteristics of self-quenching and self-recovery, no external quenching circuit is needed. The device shows a single photon response of around 30 ns and a self-recovery time of about 300 ns. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.