Abstract

Our group has been conducting extensive comparison testing of large area avalanche photodiodes made by Advanced Photonix Inc. and photo multiplier tubes. Comparisons have been made of bandwidths, rise and fall times, quantum efficiency, gain, and noise characteristics. These measurements have been made at various wavelengths from the blue up into the red. Input pulse widths have been on the order of 3 ns. Bandwidth, rise and fall times, quantum efficiency and noise characteristics have been measured as functions of wavelength, optical input intensity, and gain. The tests on the avalanche photodiodes have been conducted both with and without low noise amplifiers. Several types of custom low noise amplifiers made by Analog Modules Inc. have been used during testing of the avalanche photodiodes. The goal of this testing sequence has been to develop a combined avalanche photodiode/low noise amplifier pair. This combined pair can then be used as a replacement for the photo multiplier tubes currently used in pulsed oceanographic lidar systems.

© 1994 Optical Society of America