Silicon photomultiplier technology for low-light intensity detection

Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) consist in arrays of tiny, passive quenched avalanche photodiode microcells working in Geiger mode and connected in parallel via integrated resistors. Novel types of SiPMs are being developed at STMicroelectronics (Catania, Italy) in n-on-p and p-on-n junction configurations optimized for visible-near infrared and blue-near ultraviolet light detection, respectively. All the tested devices show interesting performances in terms of high photon detection efficiency, low level dark rate, fast timing response and very good single photoelectron resolution also for high overvoltage values, confirming the excellent single photon detection capability of ST SiPM technology.