Novel Broadband Photodetector for Optical Communication

Broadband photodetector having detection capability ranging from visible to near infrared can be useful as a common detector for both data and transport applications. The capability of using single detector for all application in optical communication as the receiver, not only makes the total system cost lower, but it also makes easier the system vendors to reduce the inventory. We proposed detector having the detection capability ranging from 650 nm to 1750 nm, wavelengths that covers all optical communication wavelengths application. This invited paper has two-fold objectives: (a) provide a comprehensive overview of conventional photodetectors and their types, being used in today’s optical communication and (b) introduce a development of multi-wavelength photo detector which authors pioneered. The features of proposed multiwavelength detector are simple structure, low-cost, high quantum efficiency, high sensitivity, and high speed.