PHOTRONIX — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A significant number of applications are currently in need of large area photon detectors.

Description

A significant number of applications are currently in need of large area photon detectors. Among these, LIDAR receivers require detectors with high external quantum efficiency in order to increase the signal-to-noise ration for a given laser output, or to reduce the laser power while maintaining the same sensitivity. Conventional detections schemes based on photo-multipliers tubes (PMTs) or solid-state avalanche photodetectors (APDs) have limitations that impact the overall system performance. It is then necessary to devise alternative approaches that provide, at the same time, detectors with high external quantum efficiency, possible grater than 90%, and uniformity over a large area. Key issues in delivering a successful solution can be identified in the following areas: the development of a highly spatially uniform approach to absorb photon employing photonics structure; - the efficient collection of the photo-generated carries; - the collection and processing of the detector"s output signal. The proposed work addresses the aforementioned issues by developing a novel approach to large area photon detections.