Optimisation of control circuit of single photon detector for space projects

Matěj Stavinoha; Ivan Procházka; Josef Blažej; Roberta Bimbová

doi:10.1117/12.2665276

6 June 2023 Optimisation of control circuit of single photon detector for space projects

Matěj Stavinoha, Ivan Procházka, Josef Blažej, Roberta Bimbová

Proceedings Volume 12570, Quantum Optics and Photon Counting 2023; 1257004 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2665276
Event: SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics, 2023, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

We have optimized the performance of the semiconductor single photon detector developed for ESA European Laser Timing (ELT) project. It is used to facilitate transmission of time information from atomic clock onboard the International Space Station (ISS) to ground. These kinds of detectors can achieve single shot time resolution better than 20 ps and propagation delay stability significantly better than 1 ps. Our main focus in improving the detector’s capabilities is the active quenching and gating control circuit (AQGC), which uses a comparator as its main component. The comparator is the most vital component in the circuit and plays a major role in determining the detector’s final characteristics. The previously employed comparator was underperforming, it was especially unsatisfactory when it came to propagation delay temperature stability, so we have chosen to replace it with a more suitable alternative. In our measurement we have achieved linear propagation delay temperature dependence of 150 fs/K without evidently compromising the other characteristics of the detector. Even lower temperature dependence of detection delay is expected to be achievable in the new circuit setup. Our next step is the overall improvement of detector quenching speed, which will be done by removing redundant parts of the AQGC and replacing outdated parts for more modern equivalent versions.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Matěj Stavinoha, Ivan Procházka, Josef Blažej, and Roberta Bimbová "Optimisation of control circuit of single photon detector for space projects", Proc. SPIE 12570, Quantum Optics and Photon Counting 2023, 1257004 (6 June 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2665276

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