The Avalanche Drift Diode: A New Detector Concept for Single Photon Detection

A concept for single optical photon detection promises high quantum efficiency and large area sensitivity while restricting the avalanche region to a very narrow (“point-like”) region of the device. This is accomplished by combining the principle of drift diode with an avalanche structure situated close by the electron collection electrode on the wafer surface opposite to the large area radiation entrance window placed on the fully depleted bulk. Extensive simulations demonstrate the validity of this concept.