Title :
Low-noise single-photon detection at wavelength 1.55 μm
Author :
Hiskett, P.A. ; Smith, J.M. ; Buller, G.S. ; Townsend, P.D.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Heriot-Watt Univ., Edinburgh, UK
fDate :
8/16/2001 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The photon-counting performance of commercially available InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes operated in Geiger mode was investigated at temperatures between 77 and 260 K. In particular, their noise equivalent power was measured to be 4×10-17 WHz -1/2 at 77 K. The implications of these results in the context of a quantum cryptography application are discussed
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; avalanche breakdown; avalanche photodiodes; gallium arsenide; indium compounds; infrared detectors; optical communication; optical noise; photodetectors; photon counting; quantum cryptography; semiconductor heterojunctions; 1.55 mum; 77 to 260 K; Geiger mode; InGaAs-InP; InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes; low-noise single-photon detection; noise equivalent power; photon-counting performance; quantum cryptography application; single-photon detection; temperatures;
Journal_Title :
Electronics Letters
DOI :
10.1049/el:20010734
