Fundamentals of Light Detection
Download our Fundamentals of Light Detection to master photodiode selection, circuit design, and detector types across Si, Ge, and InGaAs for your next precision sensing project.
This is is a practical guide for engineers who select and integrate photodiodes. It covers semiconductor physics, PN junction behavior, and all major detector types, including PIN, APD, and Schottky designs, with material comparisons across silicon, germanium, and InGaAs.
Specialized geometries such as quadrant cells, tetralateral position-sensing detectors, and sandwich detectors for two-color detection are explained, along with circuit design guidance on transimpedance amplifiers, noise mitigation, and biasing strategies. A five-step selection framework helps designers match detector material, geometry, and operating mode to their application’s wavelength range, sensitivity, speed, and environmental conditions.
GPD’s portfolio spans 250 nm to 2.6 microns, supporting applications from fiber optics and lidar to spectroscopy and industrial sensing.
