Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Waveguide-Coupled Avalanche Photodiodes For A Cmos Compatible Tranceiver Package, Nick Martinez

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Optical signal detection is most readily done with classical sources emitting signals

which undergo very little attenuation. Detection of signals with these power levels

benets from classical photodetectors, where the photon induced electronic signal is

discernible above the background noise. In other instances, where the optical signal

may start from an attenuated source, or in cases where the optical signal is severely

attenuated in transit, a detector which exhibits gain converts a weak optical signal

into a measurable electrical one. Detectors which convert a weak photo-generated

electrical pulse into a strong one do so through a process known as carrier …