Signal strength monitoring in avalanche structures operated in geiger mode

Abstract

We are presenting recent results of experimental analysis of avalanche build-up process in selected silicon avalanche structures. Structures has been operated in Geiger mode controlled by active gating and passive quenching circuit. Measurable changes in avalanche rapidity allow us to monitor optical signal strength in few-photon region 1 - 1000 photons. The resolution, reproducibility and dynamical range of these shot-by-shot based measurements will be discussed. The presented types of measurements allows us to determine the photon number involved in the detection process simultaneously with standard photon counting using single active area. In compare with multi-pixel detector the effects of multiple quenching and coherent effects are not involved in experiments. In other hands, the current photon number resolution is in factor of 3 only.