In order to fulfill the requirements of many applications, we recently developed a new technology aimed at combining the advantages of traditional thin and thick silicon Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD). In particular we demonstrated single-pixel detectors with a remarkable improvement in the Photon Detection Efficiency at the longer wavelengths (e.g. 40% at 800nm) while maintaining a timing jitter better than 100ps. In this paper we will analyze the factors the currently prevent the fabrication of arrays of SPADs by adopting such a Red-Enhanced (RE) technology and we will propose further modifications to the device structure that will enable the fabrication of high performance RE-SPAD arrays for photon timing applications.
Keywords: Enhanced Photon Detection Efficiency; Photon Counting; Photon Detection Efficiency (PDE); RE-SPAD; Red-Enhanced SPAD; SPAD arrays; Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD); Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC).