Innovative photon counting receivers for bio-photonic & QKD applications

The overall objective of the proposed SBIR program is to develop ultra low noise avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with high multiplication gain that will enable for the first time photoreceivers with high single photon detection probability, ultra-low dark count rate and low timing jitter. The goal of Phase II will be to use innovative combinations of APD material structure design, material growth and detector fabrication to produce high gain and low excess noise APDs with the capability to produce photoreceivers with single photon sensitivities from visible to IR spectral bands. We will build on the Phase I results to develop and produce ultrasensitive and broad spectral-width APDs and integrate them with amplifiers and noise reduction components to produce the single photon receivers. At the end of Phase II the Company would deliver to DARPA or its designated contractor for evaluation and for insertion into the DoD biophotonic sensors, packaged and end-to-end tested 450-2500-nm biophotonic photoreceivers with >80% single photon detection probability and GHz bandwidth. During Phase II, Epitaxial Technologies will evaluate the manufacturing processes to improve uniformity, reliability, yields, and reduce cycle time and the cost of the single photon counting receivers.