Improved germanium avalanche photodiodes

New kinds of germanium avalanche photodiodes with n+-n-p and p+-n structures were devised for improved excess noise and high quantum efficiency performance. Multiplication noise, quantum efficiency, and pulse response were studied and compared with those of the conventional n+-p structure diode. Multiplication noise of the new type of diodes were measured in the wavelength range between 0.63 and 1.52 μm. The effective ionization coefficient ratio of the p+-n diode was lower than unity at a wavelength longer than 1.1 μm and 0.6-0.7 at 1.52 μm, and that of the n+-n-p diode was 0.6-0.7 in the whole sensitive wavelength region. Response times were evaluated by using a mode-locked Nd:YAG laser beam and a frequency bandwidth wider than 1 GHz was estimated. Receiving optical power levels were compared with each other using parameters measured in this study.