Test of micropixel avalanche photodiodes

The micropixel avalanche photodiode (MAPD) is a novel photodetector with a multipixel intrinsic structure on the common silicon substrate. The typical size of each pixel is 20–30 μm and the density is about 103 mm−2. Each pixel works on the common load in the Geiger mode, where the discharge is limited by an individual quenching resistor (negative feedback like in gas Geiger counter) included in each pixel feeding chain located on the common substrate. In the Geiger mode one may get an amplification factor for a single photoelectron at the level of 106 at room temperature. Measurements of gain, photon detection efficiency, one photoelectron resolution, noise and dark current for different types of MAPD were performed and compared.