Title :
Improved figure of merit for noise in avalanche photodiodes
Author :
Westbrook, L.D. ; MacBean, M.D.A. ; Rodgers, P.M.
Author_Institution :
British Telecom Res. Lab., Ipswich, UK
fDate :
7/7/1988 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The authors propose a new noise figure for avalanche photodiodes (APDs). This new noise figure overcomes the difficulty of estimating the internal multiplication and quantum efficiency in complex APD structures, such as III-V SAM APDs. Measurements of the new noise figure are presented for two commercial SAM APDs and the authors show theoretically that it represents a more complete figure of merit for comparing the performance of one APD with another, and with the ideal
Keywords :
avalanche photodiodes; electron device noise; optical communication equipment; SAM APDs; avalanche photodiodes; complex APD structures; figure of merit; internal multiplication; noise figure; quantum efficiency;
Journal_Title :
Electronics Letters
