The Effect of Gamma Radiation Exposure on Active Silicon Photonic Device Performance Metrics

Journal Article · Tue Mar 26 04:00:00 EDT 2019 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2019.2907582· OSTI ID:1507411

Hoffman, Galen B. ^[1]; Gehl, M. ^[1]; Martinez, N. J. ^[1]; Trotter, D. C. ^[1]; Starbuck, A. L. ^[1]; Pomerene, A. ^[1]; Dallo, C. M. ^[1]; Hood, D. ^[1]; Dodd, P. E. ^[1]; Swanson, S. E. ^[1]; Long, C. M. ^[1]; DeRose, C. T. ^[1]; Lentine, A. L. ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

In this study, we test Si vertical junction disk modulators and waveguide-integrated Ge PIN photodiodes to see how the key performance metrics are affected by 60Co gamma radiation (total ionizing dose), a common proxy for simulating a mix of high energy ion particle flux. It is found that reverse bias dark current increases significantly for both devices after 1 Mrad(Si) exposure. Whereas the bandwidth of the Si disk modulator decreases by 6.5 % after 1 Mrad(Si) dose, the bandwidth of the Ge PIN photodiode appears to be unaffected. The increased sensitivity of the Si disk modulator bandwidth to gamma radiation is hypothesized to be caused by a decrease in the carrier concentration of the junction with a resulting increase in p-n junction RC time constant. The Ge PIN photodiode is relatively insensitive to the surface effects because the absorption happens away from the SiO2-Ge interface and the gamma radiation has a minimal effect on carrier mobility.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1507411
• Report Number(s): SAND--2019-3639J; 674260
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 66; ISSN 0018-9499
• Publisher: IEEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
electrooptic modulators
gamma-ray effects
integrated optics
integrated optoelectronics
optical fiber communication
photodetectors
photodiodes
silicon photonics
space radiation
total ionizing dose