Work

Opto-electronic simulation of silicon waveguide integrated single photon avalanche diodes

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) integrated into photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can offer a promising alternative to cryogenic superconducting detectors, combining CMOS compatibility with room-temperature operation. A comprehensive optoelectronic multiphysics simulation framework to model waveguide integrated SPADs is shown here. Based on imec's isipp50G technology, simulated devices show the potential of peak photon detection efficiencies (PDE) above 75% at 600 nm, when coupled with a SiN signal waveguide. This work establishes a scalable methodology for design technology co-optimization (DTCO) of SPADs for integrated photonics and identifies critical pathways towards performance improvements, mainly in dark count rate (DCR) reduction, paving the way for their full optimization and integration into quantum photonic circuits.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.575965

Authors: Manuel Chapa, Bamadev Das, Dries Van Thourhout, Stéphane Clemmen

Language: English

Topic: Photonic and Optical Devices

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270