Small-active-area germanium avalanche photodiode for single-mode fibre at 1.3 ?m wavelength

A germanium avalanche photodiode of 30 ?m active area diameter has been fabricated and tested. The multiplied dark current is as low as 5 nA at room temperature. A module using this diode and a spherical lens has been assembled and coupled with a single-mode fibre of core diameter 10 ?m. The quantum efficiency of the module is 90% at 1.3 ?m. The sensitivity is measured at 45 Mbit/s and at 1.3 ?m. Minimum detectable powers obtained for 10?11 error rate are ?51.9 dBm and ?50.7 dBm at 25°C and 50°C, respectively.