Dark Count Rate Modeling in Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes for Space LIDAR Applications

In this paper, we present a model to simulate accurately the Dark Count Rate (DCR) for Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPAD) in Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The model development has been driven by the necessity to comply with the specifications of SPAD used for future space LIDAR applications. To evaluate the DCR, the model is based on a combination of measurements to acquire data related to trap population, Technology CAD (TCAD) simulations and a Matlab routine.