Optical Receiver Selection Guide

As the interface from a photonics experiment to electronic instruments, photodetection is critical to extracting and preserving experimental results. Our optical receivers and detectors make photodetection easy and provide the lowest noise and cleanest response possible. Our broad offering spans wavelength ranges from UV to short-wave IR for free-space and fiber-coupled configurations in many versions: high-speed, general-purpose, balanced, ultralow-light-level and large-area.

Broadest Selection

With a wide variety of standard, custom, and OEM versions, we have the broadest selection of plug-&-play photoreceivers and photodetectors available anywhere. Spanning the UV to IR with beam-positioning, balanced, ultralow-light-level, large-area, high-speed and general-purpose versions in free-space and fiber-coupled configurations, Newport is the place to find the right photoreceiver and photodetector for your needs.

Plug & Play

Just flip a switch on Newport's optical receivers and detectors to see your results, even with our ultrahigh-speed devices. With built-in amplifiers, driver electronics, adjustable gain and filter settings, and LabVIEW™ compatibility, our optical receivers and detectors simplify the chores associated with the electronic portion of your photonics experiment. So as an optical engineer, you won't also have to become a microwave engineer to achieve the results you want.

Receiver or Detector?

Both types of modules employ a photodiode to convert optical signals to electrical signals. With photoreceivers, the photodiode is followed by a low-noise, linear, high-bandwidth amplifier. Characteristics of amplified photoreceivers include usability at low optical power levels (hundreds of nW), high dynamic range and isolation of the photodiode from external circuits. Non-amplified photodetector features include usability at optical ranges of hundreds of mW, the ability to be battery-biased, simplified internal circuit design for less noise and, lower cost.

3-dB Bandwidth

An important property of optical receivers and detectors is the 3-dB bandwidth, which is defined by the frequency at which the output response drops to 50% of its value at DC or other low frequency reference. Our optical receiver and detector product series are grouped according to their 3-dB bandwidths.

Conversion Gain

The sensitivity of an optical receiver or detector (how much output voltage for a given optical input power) is known as the conversion gain, measured in Volts/Watt. In an amplified photoreceiver, conversion gain is the product of the detector's responsivity, the amplifier's gain and the input impedance. In a non-amplified photodetector, the conversion gain is the product of the responsivity and load impedance. Gain can be either positive or negative, so an external inverting function may be used if desired.

Rise Time

The fastest transition that can be measured is called the rise time. In general, it is the 10% to 90% transition time (rise time) of the output response when the detector is illuminated by a negligibly short optical step function. Rise time is the parameter of choice when measuring either rising or falling edges. This type of measurement is especially common in digital communications systems where bit streams are comprised of an endless series of rising and falling edges. The rise time of a detector should be at least three times shorter than the rise time you expect to measure.

Types of Optical Receivers

  • Fiber-Optic Receivers: Amplified high-speed fiber-optic receivers offer bandwidths up to 38 GHz for receiving fiber-optic data while delivering the lowest noise and cleanest responses possible.
  • Free Space Optical Receivers: Amplified free-space photoreceivers offer bandwidths up to 10 GHz for detecting high-speed free space optical signals with the lowest noise and cleanest responses possible.
  • Balanced Photoreceivers: For applications that require detection of a weak or small signal from a noisy background, such as absorption spectroscopy or heterodyne detection, balanced photoreceivers are ideal. Consisting of two well-matched optical inputs, balanced photoreceivers amplify difference-mode signals and cancel common-mode signals, hence extracting the desired signal and removing noise.
  • Fiber-Optic Detectors: Non-amplified fiber-optic detectors use special photodiodes with high speed electronic circuits to convert fast pulses in optical fibers to electrical signals for measurement.
  • Free Space Optical Detectors: Non-amplified free space detectors convert fast pulses of free space optical signals to electrical signals for measurement.

Optical Receiver Finder

Quickly find the most appropriate high speed detectors or receivers for your application by selecting any of the key parameters from below. Here are some helpful tips using this tool:

  • Device Type: A photoreceiver is a detector with an amplifier, which results in a higher sensitivity in the signal detection. Balanced receivers are ideal for noise-sensitive measurements.
  • Optical Input: Typically a multimode fiber device can accept a single mode fiber without a large coupling loss. However, certain devices are designed for single mode fiber only to achieve optimal performances. Certain free space models have fiber adapters separately available for purchase.
  • Detector Materials: It is the key parameter that dictates the usable wavelength range. Silicon is for wavelengths shorter than 1100 nm. InGaAs is ideal for wavelengths longer than 800 nm. GaAs is ideal for 500 – 900 nm range.

Accessories

Newport also offers accessories designed to help integrate our optical receivers and detectors into your photonics experiment.