Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes

Neil Na; Erik Chen; Gerald S. Buller; Robert H. Hadfield; Richard A. Soref

doi:10.1117/12.3056028

Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes

Neil Na^*, Erik Chen, Gerald S. Buller, Robert H. Hadfield, Richard A. Soref

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

While it took about a decade for a germanium (Ge) thin film grown on a silicon (Si) substrate to be successfully applied as a detector material for high-speed optical fiber communication application, it took about another decade to further expand its usage as a sensor material for active optical sensing and imaging applications. In this paper, we shall review the progress of a shortwave infrared (SWIR) single-photon detection (SPD) with germanium-silicon (GeSi) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), ranging from the first demonstration at cryogenic temperature (Z. Lu et al., 2011) to the recent demonstration at room temperature (N. Na et al, 2024). Potential new applications will also be discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XIX
Editors	Mark A. Itzler, Joshua C. Bienfang, K. Alex McIntosh
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510686861
ISBN (Print)	9781510686854
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3056028
Publication status	Published - 30 May 2025
Event	SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025 - Orlando, United States Duration: 15 Apr 2025 → 16 Apr 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE
Volume	13448
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025
Country/Territory	United States
City	Orlando
Period	15/04/25 → 16/04/25

Keywords

Ge-on-Si
GeSi
Si photonics
single-photon avalanche diode
single-photon detection
SWIR

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3056028

Cite this

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title = "Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes",

abstract = "While it took about a decade for a germanium (Ge) thin film grown on a silicon (Si) substrate to be successfully applied as a detector material for high-speed optical fiber communication application, it took about another decade to further expand its usage as a sensor material for active optical sensing and imaging applications. In this paper, we shall review the progress of a shortwave infrared (SWIR) single-photon detection (SPD) with germanium-silicon (GeSi) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), ranging from the first demonstration at cryogenic temperature (Z. Lu et al., 2011) to the recent demonstration at room temperature (N. Na et al, 2024). Potential new applications will also be discussed.",

keywords = "Ge-on-Si, GeSi, Si photonics, single-photon avalanche diode, single-photon detection, SWIR",

author = "Neil Na and Erik Chen and Buller, \{Gerald S.\} and Hadfield, \{Robert H.\} and Soref, \{Richard A.\}",

year = "2025",

month = may,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1117/12.3056028",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781510686854",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "Itzler, \{Mark A.\} and Bienfang, \{Joshua C.\} and McIntosh, \{K. Alex\}",

booktitle = "Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XIX",

address = "United States",

}

Na, N, Chen, E, Buller, GS, Hadfield, RH & Soref, RA 2025, Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes. in MA Itzler, JC Bienfang & KA McIntosh (eds), Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XIX., 1344808, Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 13448, SPIE, SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025, Orlando, Florida, United States, 15/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3056028

TY - GEN

T1 - Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes

AU - Na, Neil

AU - Chen, Erik

AU - Buller, Gerald S.

AU - Hadfield, Robert H.

AU - Soref, Richard A.

PY - 2025/5/30

Y1 - 2025/5/30

N2 - While it took about a decade for a germanium (Ge) thin film grown on a silicon (Si) substrate to be successfully applied as a detector material for high-speed optical fiber communication application, it took about another decade to further expand its usage as a sensor material for active optical sensing and imaging applications. In this paper, we shall review the progress of a shortwave infrared (SWIR) single-photon detection (SPD) with germanium-silicon (GeSi) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), ranging from the first demonstration at cryogenic temperature (Z. Lu et al., 2011) to the recent demonstration at room temperature (N. Na et al, 2024). Potential new applications will also be discussed.

AB - While it took about a decade for a germanium (Ge) thin film grown on a silicon (Si) substrate to be successfully applied as a detector material for high-speed optical fiber communication application, it took about another decade to further expand its usage as a sensor material for active optical sensing and imaging applications. In this paper, we shall review the progress of a shortwave infrared (SWIR) single-photon detection (SPD) with germanium-silicon (GeSi) single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), ranging from the first demonstration at cryogenic temperature (Z. Lu et al., 2011) to the recent demonstration at room temperature (N. Na et al, 2024). Potential new applications will also be discussed.

KW - Ge-on-Si

KW - GeSi

KW - Si photonics

KW - single-photon avalanche diode

KW - single-photon detection

KW - SWIR

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010303353

U2 - 10.1117/12.3056028

DO - 10.1117/12.3056028

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105010303353

SN - 9781510686854

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE

BT - Advanced Photon Counting Techniques XIX

A2 - Itzler, Mark A.

A2 - Bienfang, Joshua C.

A2 - McIntosh, K. Alex

PB - SPIE

T2 - SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing 2025

Y2 - 15 April 2025 through 16 April 2025

ER -

Review of germanium-silicon single-photon avalanche diodes

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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