Experimental Characterization of Separate Absorption–Multiplication GaAs Staircase Avalanche Photodiodes under Continuous Laser Light Reveals Periodic Oscillations at High Gains
Matija Colja,
Marco Cautero,
Fulvia Arfelli,
Michele Bertolo,
Giorgio Biasiol,
Simone Dal Zilio,
Francesco Driussi,
Ralf Hendrik Menk,
Silvio Modesti,
Pierpaolo Palestri,
Alessandro Pilotto,
Giuseppe Cautero
Affiliations
Matija Colja
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Marco Cautero
Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Fulvia Arfelli
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN Sezione di Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Michele Bertolo
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Giorgio Biasiol
IOM CNR, Laboratorio TASC, Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Simone Dal Zilio
IOM CNR, Laboratorio TASC, Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Francesco Driussi
Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Ralf Hendrik Menk
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Silvio Modesti
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN Sezione di Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Pierpaolo Palestri
Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Alessandro Pilotto
Polytechnic Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Giuseppe Cautero
Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149 Trieste, Italy
In this work, we experimentally analyze the periodic oscillations that take place in staircase APDs with separate absorption and multiplication regions when operating under continuous laser light. These oscillations increase in frequency when the APD gain increases. We have verified that they are not affected by the parameters (gain and bandwidth) of the transimpedance amplifier, and thus originate inside the APD. The phenomenon is analyzed systematically by considering devices with different thicknesses of the absorption region. Possible physical interpretations related to the flux of holes generated by impact ionization are provided.