What is photo detector

Photosensors or photodetectors are sensors of light or other electromagnetic energy. The absorbed photons make electron–hole pairs in the depletion region. Avalanche photodiodes are photodiodes with structure optimized for operating with high reverse bias, approaching the reverse breakdown voltage.

This allows each photo -generated carrier to be multiplied by avalanche breakdown, resulting in internal gain within the photodiode, which increases the effective responsivity of . Photo detectors are used primarily as an optical receiver to convert light into electricity.

Excellent linearity of the output current with respect to incident light.

All photodetectors contain their own BNC or SMA output connector.

Connecting the photodetector to an oscilloscope and terminating into . For our purposes, photodetectors include any device for registering photons with frequencies above that of radio waves—from far infrared on up to gamma rays. There are several types of photo detector or photo diode technology: PN junction, avalanche, PIN. Learn about the principle of optical detection. Know various optical detectors like photodiodes, p-i-n diodes and avalanche diodes. Define figures of merit of the detectors.

Know about different sources of noise in detectors and the significance of signal to noise ratio. The photodetector is as essential an element of any fiber optic system as the optical fiber or the light source. Semiconductor photodiodes are the most commonly used detectors in optical fiber systems since they . We offer unmounted photodiodes as well as amplifie biase and avalanche photodetectors.

Also available are position-detecting sensors and integrating spheres. PD): A transducer capable of accepting an optical signal and producing an electrical signal containing the same information as in the optical signal. Note: The two main types of semiconductor photodetectors are the photodiode (PD) and the avalanche photodiode (APD). Sensors, Transducers – Optical Sensors - Photo Detectors - Logic Output are in stock at DigiKey. English dictionary definition of photodetector.

Depending on the application, a photodetector has to fulfill various requirements: It must be sensitive in some given spectral region (range of optical wavelengths). In some cases, the responsivity should be constant or at least well defined within some wavelength range. It can also be important to have zero .