Technology - Discrete Amplification (DA)

The research team at Amplification Technologies Inc. has developed a new approach for the detection of low-level signals - multichannel Discrete Amplification (DA) - that allows the simultaneous attainment of very high gain, high speed and ultra-low excess noise in a silicon device. The Discrete Amplification (DA) involves three basic functions::

Distributing individual signal electrons into a separate independent amplification channel
Amplifying each individual signal electron in a separate channel to a readable charge packet
Reading the amplified charge packets

Amplification Technologies' DA photodetectors could function in both analog and photon counting modes. The DA photodetectors provide:

Photon-counting level sensitivity
Wide spectral range
Relatively flat spectral sensitivity curve
High photon detection efficiency
Wide dynamic range
Fast response
High voltage stability
High thermal stability

See below for device characterisitics.

Characteristics of DA Photon Detectors

High photon detection efficiency at high dynamic range

Short rise-fall time for a one electron pulse is characteristic of DA photodetectors.

Parameter	Definition	Unit	DAPD
Temperature coefficient of reverse bias U	dV/dT	mV/˚C	20 - 30
Temperature coefficient of Gain	dGain/Gain/dT	%/˚C	0.1 - 0.5
Temperature coefficient of PDE	dPDE/PDE/dT	%/˚C	0.1 - 0.6
Overvoltage	V - Vbr	V	7 - 20

High voltage and temperature stability.