Low-cost, polarisation independent, tapered photodiodes with bandwidth over 50GHz

50GHz bandwidth photodiodes, attaining a compression point of +12dBm, have been fabricated. The structure design allows an almost complete absorption at 25 mu m, corresponding to 0.5A/W responsivity and gives a polarisation dependence as low as plus or minus 0.1dB. These components have been realised with a low-cost technology including etched waveguide input facet, antireflection coating on wafer and cleaving V-grooves.