Princeton Lightwave, Inc. introduces the first indium phosphide single photon counting avalanche photodiode (SPAD) designed for optimum performance at 1.06 µm. The PLI 1.06 µm SPAD bridges the performance gap between silicon and conventional indium phosphide devices. The result is a SPAD with peak responsivity at 1.06µm which enables very low dark count rates while providing an order of magnitude larger detection efficiency compared to silicon. The device is available in sizes of 80 and 200 microns, packaged with a thermoelectric cooler inside a windowed TO-8 can. The low dark count rate will allow operations in either gated or non-gated mode. A detection efficiency of 50% is achievable.
