High Speed and High Sensitivity Quadrant Photodetector

To further advance the characterization and utility of microcantilevers, next generation optical detectors with higher frequency response, improved displacement resolution and lower noise for weak signal detection are needed. Consequently, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD) will develop a turnkey optical detector module for use in characterizing the displacement and resonant frequencies of microcantilevers used in scanning probe microscopes and sensing applications. This module will meet desirable detector specifications, including a bandwidth of at least 50 MHz, displacement resolution of 0.1 microns and high responsivity to wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared. At the end of the Phase 1 effort, a working prototype was delivered to NIST for test and validation. The Phase 2 effort will highlight further performance enhancement and refining the module design for commercial production.