1.0–1.4-μm high-speed avalanche photodiodes

Abstract

High-speed high-quantum-efficiency avalanche photodiodes (APD’s) are required in the 1.0–1.4-μm wavelength range in order to exploit the superior optical fibers now available at these wavelengths. The GaAlSb heterojunction APD’s reported here have external quantum efficiencies of 60% (without antireflection coatings), risetimes of 60 ps, and pulse widths (FWHM) of 120 ps with no evidence of a ’’back porch’’. Uniform high-speed avalanche gains of 20 have been achieved.