Protocols for healing radiation-damaged single-photon detectors suitable for space environment
arXiv:2305.10959 · doi:10.1109/TNS.2023.3332830
Abstract
Single-photon avalanche detectors (SPADs) are well-suited for satellite-based quantum communication because of their advantageous operating characteristics as well as their relatively straightforward and robust integration into satellite payloads. However, space-borne SPADs will encounter damage from space radiation, which usually manifests itself in the form of elevated dark counts. Methods for mitigating this radiation damage have been previously explored, such as thermal and optical (laser) annealing. Here we investigate in a lab, using a CubeSat payload, laser annealing protocols in terms of annealing laser power and annealing duration, for their possible later use in orbit. Four Si SPADs (Excelitas SLiK) irradiated to an equivalent of 10 years in low Earth orbit exhibit very high dark count rates (>300 kcps at -22 C operating temperature) and significant saturation effects. We show that annealing them with optical power between 1 and 2 W yields reduction in dark count rate by a factor of up to 48, as well as regaining SPAD sensitivity to a very faint optical signal (on the order of single photon) and alleviation of saturation effects. Our results suggest that an annealing duration as short as 10 seconds can reduce dark counts, which can be beneficial for power-limited small-satellite quantum communication missions. Overall, annealing power appears to be more critical than annealing duration and number of annealing exposures.
arXiv comment11 pages, 10 figures, work presented at IEEE Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference 2022, accepted to IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. New version contains additional data regarding thermal behaviour, developed supporting arguments in Sec V, and additional references. All major results remain the same
References in corpus (10)
- A comprehensive design and performance analysis of LEO satellite quantum communication
- Laser damage helps the eavesdropper in quantum cryptography
- Mitigating radiation damage of single photon detectors for space applications
- Silicon avalanche photodiode operation and lifetime analysis for small satellites
- Spaceborne low-noise single-photon detection for satellite-based quantum communications
- Ultra-low noise single-photon detector based on Si avalanche photodiode
- Laser annealing heals radiation damage in avalanche photodiodes
- Repeated radiation damage and thermal annealing of avalanche photodiodes
- Temperature dependence of radiation damage annealing of Silicon Photomultipliers
- Proton Irradiation Damage and Annealing Effects in ON Semiconductor J-Series Silicon Photomultipliers