A Germanium Detector is a germanium-based photodetector that converts near-infrared light into a measurable electrical output, typically covering wavelengths through the 1.0–1.6 µm region. It is used in fiber-optic communications, optical power meters, monitoring circuits, and test equipment where response at telecom wavelengths is required. Key specifications include responsivity, dark current, bandwidth, and package type. GPD Optoelectronics manufactures germanium detectors for infrared detection applications.
Everyone’s talking GPUs, but the AI buildout has a quieter bottleneck: getting data into and out of chips fast enough. As data centers push toward 800G and 1.6T, silicon can’t detect the light. Germanium and InGaAs photodiodes are the unsung heroes making it work.