Silicon APD Outperforms InP
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 10, 2008 –- By creating a silicon photonics device that outperforms traditional avalanche photodetectors containing expensive, exotic optical materials, researchers said they have moved a step closer to making very low cost optical parts for supercomputing, data center communications, consumer electronics, automotive sensors, medical diagnostics, and other applications.
A packaged silicon avalanche photodetector held in a pair of tweezers. A silicon chip is mounted in the circle on the upper right, while...