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Historical Perspectives, State of art and Research Trends of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes and Their Applications (Part 1: Single Pixels)

Authors :
Iris Cusini
Davide Berretta
Enrico Conca
Alfonso Incoronato
Francesca Madonini
Arianna Adelaide Maurina
Chiara Nonne
Simone Riccardo
Federica Villa
Source :
Frontiers in Physics, Vol 10 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.

Abstract

The ability to detect single photons is becoming an enabling key capability in an increasing number of fields. Indeed, its scope is not limited to applications that specifically rely on single photons, such as quantum imaging, but extends to applications where a low signal is overwhelmed by background light, such as laser ranging, or in which faint excitation light is required not to damage the sample or harm the patient. In the last decades, SPADs gained popularity with respect to other single-photon detectors thanks to their small size, possibility to be integrated in Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor processes, room temperature operability, low power supply and, above all, the possibility to be fast gated (to time filter the incoming signal) and to precisely timestamp the detected photons. The development of large digital arrays that integrates the detectors and circuits has allowed the implementation of complex functionality on-chip, tailoring the detectors to suit the need of specific applications. This review proposes a complete overview of silicon SPADs characteristics and applications. In this Part I, starting with the working principle, simulation models and required frontend, the paper moves to the most common parameters adopted in literature for characterizing SPADs, and describes single pixels applications and their performance. In the next Part II, the focus is then posed on the development of SPAD arrays, presenting some of the most notable examples found in literature. The actual exploitation of these designs in real applications (e.g., automotive, bioimaging and radiation detectors) is then discussed.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2296424X
Volume :
10
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Physics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7a6acdd4f78242b6a80ba1c512f59ac9
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.906675