Very-high-bandwidth In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As p-i-n detector arrays

Abstract
The authors fabricated and packaged 1*4 arrays of In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As p-i-n photodetectors connected in a GaAs FET bias-switched, common cathode circuit. The bandwidth of the discrete (packaged) photodiodes in the arrays exceeds 11 GHz, and is 5 GHz for the packaged arrays. The on/off isolation ratio for fully packaged arrays using GaAs FET bias switches was measured at both low and high frequencies. It was found that the on/off isolation of the detectors in the array was 70 dB, and the bias switching times were less than 5 ns. The performance characteristics suggest that the p-i-n detector arrays used in a common cathode, current summing configuration have applications for high-freqeuncy digital and analog optical switching applications.