Calibration and comparison of detection efficiency for free-space single-photon avalanche diodes at 850 nm

A detection efficiency measurement system for free-space single-photon detectors has been established at the National Research Council (NRC) Canada. This measurement apparatus incorporates an 850 nm fiber laser source and utilizes a double-attenuation and substitution calibration technique. Detection efficiency calibrations of silicon single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) at incident photon rates in the range of 1.0 × 10 5 photon counts per second (Cts/s) (36 fW) to 2.1 × 10 6 C t s / s (734 fW) are SI-traceable through the substitution configuration with a silicon transfer standard detector, calibrated directly using the NRC absolute cryogenic radiometer. The measurement approach taken by the NRC was compared with the SPAD calibration technique implemented at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States. The count-rate-dependent detection efficiency of a silicon SPAD was measured at NIST and compared with results from the same SPAD measured at NRC within the range of incident photon rates from 1 × 10 5 C t s / s to 5 × 10 5 C t s / s . Comparison of the calibration results shows agreement between the two laboratories within the combined measurement uncertainties.