Historical Perspectives, State of Art and Research Trends of SPAD Arrays and Their Applications (Part II: SPAD Arrays)

• DOI: 10.3389/fphy.2022.906671
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04T07:17:57Z
• Authors: Iris Cusini; Davide Berretta; Enrico Conca; Alfonso Incoronato; Francesca Madonini; Arianna Adelaide ...; Chiara Nonne; Simone Riccardo; Federica Villa
• Keywords: quenching circuits; Physics; QC1-999; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD); SPAD arrays; single photon counting (SPC); time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC); 02 engineering and technology

The ability to detect single photons is becoming an enabling key capability in increasing number of fields. Indeed, its scope not limited applications that specifically rely on photons, such as quantum imaging, but extends where a low signal overwhelmed by background light, laser ranging, or which faint excitation light required damage the sample harm patient. In last decades, SPADs gained popularity with respect other single-photon detectors thanks their small size, possibility be integrated complementary metal-oxide semiconductor processes, room temperature operability, power supply and, above all, fast gated (to time filter incoming signal) and precisely timestamp detected photons. development large digital arrays integrates circuits has allowed implementation complex functionality on-chip, tailoring suit need specific applications. This review proposes complete overview silicon characteristics previous Part I, starting working principle, simulation models frontend, paper moves most common parameters adopted literature for characterizing SPAD performance describes pixels performance. this II, focus posed arrays, presenting some notable examples found literature. actual exploitation these designs real (e.g., automotive, bioimaging radiation detectors) then discussed.