The SPM Series High Gain Avalanche Photodiodes (APD), also known as Silicon Photomultipliers (SPM or SiPM), are a new solid state alternative to the aging Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) technology. This new type of avalanche detectors combines the high gain (10⁶) and high quantum efficiency of the PMT with the well appreciated benefits of silicon including small size, low operating voltage, robustness, reliability, magnetic field insensitivity, tolerance of excess/ambient light and suitability for miniaturization. In addition, a novel design allows a high signal to noise ratio and a very fast pulse response. PMTs are to light bulbs as the SPMs are to LEDs. Whether your application is a large area radiation detection, a benchtop instrument or a full-scale laboratory analysis instrument, the SPM Series detectors will provide significant benefit over existing detector platforms.
These high gain detectors consist of an array of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes, each individually coupled to integrated quench electronics. Geiger mode APDs have extremely high internal amplification that allows single photon sensitivity at room temperature. The output of a Geiger mode APD is an identical, fixed charge or current pulse for each single photon detected. By connecting an array of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes in parallel, ...

The SPM Series High Gain Avalanche Photodiodes (APD), also known as Silicon Photomultipliers (SPM or SiPM), are a new solid state alternative to the aging Photomultiplier Tube (PMT) technology. This new type of avalanche detectors combines the high gain (10⁶) and high quantum efficiency of the PMT with the well appreciated benefits of silicon including small size, low operating voltage, robustness, reliability, magnetic field insensitivity, tolerance of excess/ambient light and suitability for miniaturization. In addition, a novel design allows a high signal to noise ratio and a very fast pulse response. PMTs are to light bulbs as the SPMs are to LEDs. Whether your application is a large area radiation detection, a benchtop instrument or a full-scale laboratory analysis instrument, the SPM Series detectors will provide significant benefit over existing detector platforms.
These high gain detectors consist of an array of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes, each individually coupled to integrated quench electronics. Geiger mode APDs have extremely high internal amplification that allows single photon sensitivity at room temperature. The output of a Geiger mode APD is an identical, fixed charge or current pulse for each single photon detected. By connecting an array of Geiger mode avalanche photodiodes in parallel, the summed output becomes proportional to the number of Geiger mode pulses and hence proportional to the incident photon flux. The uniform high gain across the array allows the single photoelectron peaks to be clearly resolved permitting both single photon detection and accurate calibration of the photon number.
Please check our other new exciting low light detection devices: PCD Series Photon Counting Devices (see Photon Counting Detectors, PCD Series), and HRTM Series High Resolution Photon Timing Modules (see Photon Timing Module, HRTM Series).