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Abstract

This paper presents a review of avalanche photodiode in optical communication technology. Avalanche photodiode is one of photodiodes can be operated in high electric field in order to achieve high bit rate optical fiber communication systems. In long distance optical communication, the avalanche photodiode (APDs) is frequently the photo detector of choice owing to its internal gain, which provides a sensitivity margin relative to PIN photodiode. Previously, studies and research has improved the performance of APDs in optical communication systems, the research include development and improvement in terms of materials used in device structures of avalanche photodiodes. A review of Avalanche photodiode and the principle of avalanche photodiode work, as semiconductor will be discussed. This reverse bias device also used guard ring as is to remove the high electric fields and to drain the surface currents due to high reverse bias voltage. It also showed the mode of operation used in avalanche photodiode and potential materials that can be used optimum in looking for best avalanche photodiode. In last section, this paper reviews about future works in the research of avalanche photodiode.