Four-hundred-picosecond single-photon timing with commercially available avalanche photodiodes

Abstract

Avalanche photodiodes biased above the breakdown voltage are an interesting alternative to photomultiplier tubes in time-correlated single-photon counting. The characteristics and performance of a commercially available device (RCA C30921S) have been investigated. The time resolution is found to improve as the excess bias above the breakdown voltage is increased. Full width at half-maximum values down to 400 ps have been measured with the detector cooled at −40 °C, and down to 460 ps at room temperature. The best results were obtained with an active quenching circuit, suitable for operation with excess bias voltage up to 40 V; at room temperature, fast gated operation was used for attaining optimum performance. Experimental data on the statistical behavior of the avalanche current pulses in these devices are reported and discussed.