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A Survey of Methods Using Balanced Photodetection

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A Survey of Methods Using Balanced Photodetection

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New Focus balanced photoreceivers are ideal for optical detection applications that require sensitive measurements. This application note focuses on several techniques, divided into three categories: small signal detection in time domain, small signal detection in frequency domain, and coherent heterodyne detection.FM Spectroscopy with tunable diode lasers takes advantage of the change in optical absorption as a function of the frequency (wavelength) of light passed through the sample.Balanced photodetection is a commonly used detection method in the lab when an experiment requires increased signal-to-noise. This detection method has many advantages to simply amplifying a signal, either with an amplifier following the photodiode, or with an avalanche photodiode (APD) for example. It is particularly powerful in its ability to cancel laser noise or “common mode noise” and in its ability to detect small signal fluctuations on a large DC signal. In this application note we explore a wide variety of detection methods utilizing balanced photodetectors and briefly discuss their implementation.

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