InGaAs vs. Germanium Photodiode refers to a common selection tradeoff between two infrared detector materials used to convert light into electrical current. InGaAs typically offers lower dark current, higher responsivity, and better performance for high-speed or low-noise applications, while germanium can be used for near-IR detection around telecom wavelengths with different cost and performance characteristics. The best choice depends on wavelength range, noise limits, and bandwidth. GPD Optoelectronics manufactures both InGaAs and germanium photodiodes.
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.