CRANBURY, N.J.—Princeton Lightwave in Cranbury, N.J., and id Quantique in Geneva, Switzerland, are working together to develop a single-photon counting module optimized for 1064 nanometers by combining an avalanche photodiode with integrated biasing and quenching electronics.

It is difficult to detect single photons at a wavelength close to 1064 nanometers with high efficiency, low noise, and low jitter, experts say. This region of the spectrum lies at the edge of the sensitivity of silicon and indium gallium arsenide avalanche photodiodes.

The best approach today is to use a silicon avalanche photodiode-based single-photon detector. Unfortunately, the efficiency will not exceed a few percent. Princeton Lightwave and id Quantique are collaborating to close this detection hole by providing optimized detectors. Princeton Lightwave engineers will use their expertise in III-V single-photon detector design and fabrication to develop an InGaAsP/InP avalanche photodiode optimized for Geiger mode operation with high-efficiency at 1064 nanometers.

The id Quantique engineers will combine this photodiode with its integrated active quenching circuit, which guarantees high performance due to fast quenching and low capacitance, and high reliability. This detector module will target applications in free-space quantum key distribution, remote sensing, and spectroscopy.

It will be launched at the end of 2007 and will be demonstrated at the Photonics West show in San Jose in January 2008. For more information, visit Princeton Lightwave online at www.princetonlightwave.com, or id Quantique at www.idquantique.com.