SAP500 Series - Silicon APDs for Photon Counting

31 Jul 2019

Detecting the smallest amount of light is important in many medical diagnostic applications. Photomultipler tubes (PMTs) are widely used but are sensitive to magnetic fields and require a high operating voltage. Over the last six years avalanche photodiodes (APDs) have started to displace PMTs because they are cheaper, have longer lifetimes, use lower operating voltages and are insensitive to magnetic fields.

LASER COMPONENTS is a world leading manufacturer of Si APDs. From our research and production facility in Arizona we supply customers all over the world with these industrial grade detectors.

The SAP500 series is based on a reach through structure featuring excellent quantum efficiency, low noise and minimal dark current. In order to detect individual photons the device is operated in Geiger mode, where the operating voltage is greater than the breakdown voltage. This causes a single photon to generate an avalanche of 108 charge carriers. The diameter of the active area of the SAP500S2 is 500 microns and the device is manufactured in a standard TO-46 can which is hermetically sealed.

The SAP500 is particularly suitable for applications in which the individual photons have to be quantified such as confocal imaging of biological samples.

More Information https://www.lasercomponents.com/uk/product/silicon-apds-for-photon-counting/