Technology Guides
Aura Noiseless InGaAs® Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) Technology Backgrounder
A photodiode (PD) is a type of diode that converts light energy into electrical energy, when incident light falls on the PD it generates a current flow directly proportional to the intensity of light. If the intensity of light at the PN junction of the PD is increased, then the reverse current also increases.
Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) are highly sensitive semiconductor-based photodetectors that can multiply the current generated by the light falling on them via an avalanche process. As with PDs, APDs convert photons into an electrical current, but APDs have a multiplication factor that amplifies the current generated by a single photon to produce a measurable signal. This results in higher sensitivity than PDs and as such APDs are ideal for low-level light detection and photon counting.…
