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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Self-scanned photodiode array - High performance operation in high dispersion astronomical spectrophotometry

A multichannel spectrophotometric detector system has been developed using a 1024 element self-scanned silicon photodiode array, which is now in routine operation with the high-dispersion coude spectrograph of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory 2.7-m telescope. Operational considerations in the use of such arrays for high precision and low light level spectrophotometry are discussed. A detailed description of the system is presented. Performance of the detector as measured in the laboratory and on astronomical program objects is described, and it is shown that these arrays are highly effective detectors for high dispersion astronomical spectroscopy.

Vogt, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

State-of-the-art performance of GaAlAs/GaAs avalanche photodiodes

Ga(0.15)Al(0.85)As/GaAs avalanche photodiodes have been successfully fabricated. The performance of these detectors is characterized by a rise time of less than 35 ps, an external quantum efficiency with an antireflection coating of 95% at 0.53 microns, and a microwave optical gain of 42 dB. The dark current density is in the low range (10 to the minus A/sq cm) at one-half the breakdown voltages, and rises to 0.0001 A/sq cm at 42 dB optical gain.

Law, H. D.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Conceptual design and applications of HgCdTe infrared photodiodes for heterodyne systems

The significance of HgCdTe photodiodes are discussed relative to their existance in heterodyne detection systems operating in the 9 to 11 micrometer CO2 laser wavelength region. Their successful fabrication as well as the physical properties of the materials are described. The implementation of controlled industrial processes are reported with emphasis on the yield of predictable and repeatable detector characteristics to the discriminating systems, demands for high cutoff frequencies, quantum efficiency, and reliability. The most salient production steps and diode characteristics are presented. Measured results from production units are also given.

Sirieix, M. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A linear photodiode array employed in a short range laser triangulation obstacle avoidance sensor

An opto-electronic receiver incorporating a multi-element linear photodiode array as a component of a laser-triangulation rangefinder was developed as an obstacle avoidance sensor for a Martian roving vehicle. The detector can resolve the angle of laser return in 1.5 deg increments within a field of view of 30 deg and a range of five meters. A second receiver with a 1024 elements over 60 deg and a 3 meter range is also documented. Design criteria, circuit operation, schematics, experimental results and calibration procedures are discussed.

Odenthal, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Intensified silicon photodiode array detector linearity Application to coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy

The linearity of an intensified silicon photodiode array multichannel detector is studied with coherent anti-Stokes Raman and other similar signals. Studies with diffuse and focused (spherically and cylindrically) signals resolved apparent saturation problems which limit the dynamic range of the detector. In addition, it has been shown that there is no short-range wavelength (473-532-nm) dependence on this saturation. Theoretical explanations for these phenomena are also included.

Antcliff, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Avalanche Photodiode Statistics in Triggered-avalanche Detection Mode

The output of a triggered avalanche mode avalanche photodiode is modeled as Poisson distributed primary avalanche events plus conditionally Poisson distributed trapped carrier induced secondary events. The moment generating function as well as the mean and variance of the diode output statistics are derived. The dispersion of the output statistics is shown to always exceed that of the Poisson distribution. Several examples are considered in detail.

Tan, H. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Radiation effects induced in pin photodiodes by 40- and 85-MeV protons

PIN photodiodes were bombarded with 40- and 85-MeV protons to a fluence of 1.5 x 10 to the 11th power p/sq cm, and the resulting change in spectral response in the near infrared was determined. The photocurrent, dark current and pulse amplitude were measured as a function of proton fluence. Changes in these three measured properties are discussed in terms of changes in the diode's spectral response, minority carrier diffusion length and depletion width. A simple model of induced radiation effects is presented which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The model assumes that incident protons produce charged defects within the depletion region simulating donor type impurities.

Becher, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Photon Detection with Cooled Avalanche Photodiodes: Theory and Preliminary Experimental Results

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) can be operated in a geiger-tube mode so that they can respond to single electron events and thus be used as photon counting detectors. Operational characteristics and theory of APDs while used in this mode are analyzed and assessed. Preliminary experimental investigation of several commercially available APDs has commenced, and initial results for dark count statistics are presented.

Robinson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Application of photodiodes to the detection of electromagnetic bursts

A new type of photodiode + scintillator (1 m2 x 1 cm) detector is developed to detect the large electro-magnetic burst under an EX-chamber. The threshold burst size is found to be 4.3 x 10 the 5 particles at the center of the scintillator. Therefore a gamma-ray family of 10 TeV is detectable by it, when it is set under 14 r.1. of iron. In addition, a very fast (2.4 nsec width) and very bright (correspond to 10 to the 6 particles) scintillation pulse has become avarable for this study.

Fukushima, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1985

PIN photodiodes irradiated with 40- and 85-MeV protons

PIN photodiodes were bombarded with 40- and 85-MeV protons to a fluence of 1.5 x 10 to the 11th p/sq cm, and the resulting change in spectral response in the near infrared was determined. The photocurrent, dark current, and pulse amplitude were measured as a function of proton fluence. Changes in these three measured properties are discussed in terms of changes in the diode's spectral response, minority carrier diffusion length, and depletion width. A simple model of induced radiation effects is presented which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The model assumes that incident protons produce charged defects within the depletion region simulating donor type impurities.

Reft, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

An intensified photodiode array detector for space applications

The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) is a general purpose moderate resolution spectrograph which is now being constructed for launch on the Space Shuttle. The instrument contains a Rowland spectrograph, which is located at the prime focus of a 0.9-m f/2 parabola. A description is given of the progress which has been made in the development of a flight detector for HUT. The detector developed is an intensified photodiode array. The image intensifier part of the detector contains two 25-mm 80:1, 12-micron pore microchannel plates (PCPs). A thin layer of CsI deposited on the front surface of the first microchannel plate has the objective to increase the quantum efficiency of the detector below 1850 A. The detector system utilizes a spectrometer processor (SP) which is based upon a bit-sliced microprocessor. The current status of the HUT detector system is discussed, and aspects of performance are evaluated. It is felt that the developed system will meet or exceed the design requirements.

Long, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Effect of atmospheric turbulence on the bit error probability of a space to ground near infrared laser communications link using binary pulse position modulation and an avalanche photodiode detector

The effect of atmospheric turbulence on the bit error rate of a space-to-ground near infrared laser communications link is investigated, for a link using binary pulse position modulation and an avalanche photodiode detector. Formulas are presented for the mean and variance of the bit error rate as a function of signal strength. Because these formulas require numerical integration, they are of limited practical use. Approximate formulas are derived which are easy to compute and sufficiently accurate for system feasibility studies, as shown by numerical comparison with the exact formulas. A very simple formula is derived for the bit error rate as a function of signal strength, which requires only the evaluation of an error function. It is shown by numerical calculations that, for realistic values of the system parameters, the increase in the bit error rate due to turbulence does not exceed about thirty percent for signal strengths of four hundred photons per bit or less. The increase in signal strength required to maintain an error rate of one in 10 million is about one or two tenths of a db.

Safren, H. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Photon detection with cooled avalanche photodiodes

Commercial avalanche photodiodes have been operated as single-photon detectors at an optimum operating temperature and bias voltage. These detectors were found to be 1.5-3 times more sensitive than presently available photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). Both single-photon detection probability and detector noise increase with bias voltage; detection probabilities greater than twice that of a PMT were obtained with detector noise levels below 100 counts per second. Higher probabilities were measured at higher noise levels. The sources of noise and their dependence on temperature and bias voltage are discussed.

Robinson, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Cooled avalanche photodiode used for photon detection

Commercial avalanche photodiodes have been operated as single-photon detectors at an optimum operating temperature and bias voltage. These detectors were found to be 1.5 to 3 times more sensitive than presently-available photomultiplier tubes (PPMTs). Both single-photon detection probability and detector noise increase with bias voltage; detection probabilities greater than 25 percent were obtained with detector noise levels comparable to the noise of a PMT; higher probabilities were measured at higher noise levels. The sources of noise and their dependence on temperature and bias voltage are discussed.

Robinson, Deborah L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Application of PN and avalanche silicon photodiodes to low-level optical

New approaches to the discovery of other planetary systems require very sensitive and stable detection techniques in order to succeed. Two methods in particular, the astrometric and the photometric methods, require this. To begin understanding the problems and limitations of solid state detectors regarding this application, preliminary experiments were performed at the National Bureau of Standards and a low light level detector characterization facility was built. This facility is briefly described, and the results of tests conducted in it are outlined. A breadboard photometer that was used to obtain stellar brightness ratio precision data is described. The design principles of PN and avalanche silicon photodiodes based on low light level measuring circuits are discussed.

Eppeldauer, G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Effective amplifier noise for an optical receiver based on linear mode avalanche photodiodes

The rms noise charge induced by the amplifier for an optical receiver based on the linear-mode avalanche photodiode (APD) was analyzed. It is shown that for an amplifier with a 1-pF capacitor and a noise temperature of 100 K, the rms noise charge due to the amplifier is about 300. Since the noise charge must be small compared to the signal gain, APD gains on the order of 1000 will be required to operate the receiver in the linear mode.

Chen, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Predictions of silicon avalanche photodiode detector performance in water vapor differential absorption lidar

Performance analyses are presented which establish that over most of the range of signals expected for a down-looking differential absorption lidar (DIAL) operated at 16 km the silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) is the preferred detector for DIAL measurements of atmospheric water vapor in the 730 nm spectral region. The higher quantum efficiency of the APD's, (0.8-0.9) compared to a photomultiplier's (0.04-0.18) more than offsets the higher noise of an APD receiver. In addition to offering lower noise and hence lower random error the APD's excellent linearity and impulse recovery minimize DIAL systematic errors attributable to the detector. Estimates of the effect of detector system parameters on overall random and systematic DIAL errors are presented, and performance predictions are supported by laboratory characterization data for an APD receiver system.

Kenimer, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Photon counting modules using RCA silicon avalanche photodiodes

Avalanche photodiodes (APD) are excellent small area, solid state detectors for photon counting. Performance possibilities include: photon detection efficiency in excess of 50 percent; wavelength response from 400 to 1000 nm; count rate to 10 (exp 7) counts per sec; afterpulsing at negligible levels; timing resolution better than 1 ns. Unfortunately, these performance levels are not simultaneously available in a single detector amplifier configuration. By considering theoretical performance predictions and previous and new measurements of APD performance, the anticipated performance of a range of proposed APD-based photon counting modules is derived.

Lightstone, Alexander W.↗