Abstract
For high-bit-rate long-haul fiber optic communications, the avalanche photodiode (APD) is frequently the
photodetector of choice owing to its internal gain, which provides a sensitivity margin relative to PIN photodiodes.
APDs can achieve 5–10-dB better sensitivity than PINs, provided that the multiplication noise is low and the
gain-bandwidth product is sufficiently high. In the past decade, the performance of APDs for optical fiber
communication systems has improved as a result of improvements in materials and the development of advanced device
structures. This paper presents a brief review of APD fundamentals and describes some of the significant advances.
© 2007 IEEE
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