Photodetectors are essential components in a wide range of optical systems—from medical instruments and spectroscopy devices to LiDAR, optical communication, and industrial automation. However, one often-overlooked factor that can degrade their performance is dark current. But what is dark current, and more importantly, what are dark current hazards of photodetector? This article explains...

Photodetectors are crucial components in optical systems, converting incident light into electrical signals. One of the most important parameters that define their performance is responsivity. This article will walk you through what responsivity is, why it matters, and how to measure responsivity accurately. What Is Responsivity? Responsivity (R) is defined as the ratio of the electrical output...

Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) photodetectors have long been a cornerstone technology in near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) detection. With their excellent sensitivity, low noise, and fast response, InGaAs photodiodes are widely used in applications ranging from optical communication and spectroscopy to military surveillance and LiDAR. However, as emerging technologies advance...

A phototransistor is a photosensitive transistor that is used to boost the photocurrent produced by changing the energy of light.   A photodiode is an electrically powered photosensitive diode that transforms light energy. It is constructed out of silicon or germanium. It is a single-PN junction device that employs the photoelectric effect as its governing theory.   Comparing...

P-i-n-type photodiodes contain thicker depletion layers than traditional p-n-type photodiodes, which can capture carriers more effectively, leading to higher quantum efficiency, reduced capacitance, and wider detection bandwidth.   InGaAs p-i-n diodes can be employed when the wavelength is around 1700 nm (or the spectrum exceeds 2600 nm), however the price is greater (especially...