Computational Method to Calculate Output Current for Gated SPAD to Determine DCR and PDE
Abstract
The problem of detecting a single-photon is receiving considerable attention
with the development of new single-photon detectors in stressed free-space optical
communication, low probability of intercept (LPI) optical communication,
quantum communication, and remote sensing. The theoretical modeling of the
waveforms of the single-photon detector output produced in particular systems will
expedite the search for and analysis of detected signals.
A mathematical model of the output current of a single-photon avalanche
detector (SPAD) gated with sinusoidal and Gaussian signals is developed and
discussed. The mathematical model is combined with existing circuit and physical
models to produce a compact model of the SPAD. Compact modeling of single-photon detectors allows the performance of single-photon detectors to be further
improved. This compact model eliminates the ambiguous calculation of the output current, dark count rate, and photon detection efficiency produced by the singlephoton avalanche detector.