PDA015C2

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain

Detector

User Guide
InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Safety ........................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2 Description ................................................................................................................... 2

Chapter 3 Setup Guide .................................................................................................................. 3

Chapter 4 Operation ..................................................................................................................... 5

Chapter 5 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................... 7

Chapter 6 Specifications ............................................................................................................... 8

Chapter 7 Certificate of Conformance ......................................................................................... 15

Chapter 8 Warranty and RMA Information ................................................................................. 16

Chapter 9 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts..................................................................................... 17

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 1: Safety

Chapter 1 Safety
All statements regarding safety of operation and technical data in this instruction manual will only apply when the
unit is operated correctly in accordance with this user manual.

Caution
The following statement applies to the products covered in this manual, unless otherwise
specified herein. The statement for other products will appear in the accompanying
documentation. Inputs and outputs must only be connected with shielded connection cables.
Only with written consent from Thorlabs may changes to single components be carried out or
components not supplied by Thorlabs be used.
This product has been tested and found to comply with the limits according to IEC 61326-1 for
using connection cables shorter than 3 meters (9.8 feet).
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules, and meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference
Causing Equipment Standard ICES-003 for digital apparatus. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in an industrial installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation.
Thorlabs is not responsible for any radio television interference caused by modifications of this
equipment or the substitution or attachment of connecting cables and equipment other than
those specified by Thorlabs. The correction of interference caused by such unauthorized
modification, substitution or attachment will be the responsibility of the user. The use of
shielded I/O cables is required when connecting this equipment to any and all optional
peripheral or host devices. Failure to do so may violate FCC and ICES rules. The safety of any
system incorporating the equipment is the responsibility of the assembler of the system.

If equipment is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the protection provided by
the equipment may be impaired.

This instrument should be kept clear of environments where liquid spills or condensing
moisture are likely. It is not water resistant. To avoid damage to the instrument, do not expose
it to spray, liquids, or solvents.

ESD Component Caution

The components inside this instrument are ESD sensitive. Take all appropriate precautions to discharge
personnel and equipment before making any electrical connections to the unit.

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 1

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 2: Description

Chapter 2 Description
Introduction
The PDA015C2 detector, shown in Figure 1, is a high-speed amplified indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs)
photodetector designed for detection of optical signals over the 800 nm to 1700 nm wavelength range. It has a
frequency response from DC to 380 MHz, a 1 ns impulse response time, and a maximum transimpedance gain of
50 kV/A. A buffered output drives 50 Ω loads up to 5 V with an NEP of 20 pW/√Hz.
The LDS12B± 12 VDC power supply is included with each amplified photodetector, and a switch on the power
supply can be toggled to select the appropriate input voltage (100, 120, or 230 VAC ). The PDA015C2 detector
housing includes a removable threaded coupler (SM1T1) and retaining ring (SM1RR) that are compatible with any
of Thorlabs’ SM1-threaded (1.035”-40) accessories. The housing also accommodates Thorlabs’ SM05-threaded
(0.535"-40) series of adapters and accessories. This allows convenient mounting of external optics, light filters,
and apertures, as well as providing an easy mounting mechanism using Thorlabs’ cage assembly accessories.

BNC Output Connector Power Connector

Slide Power Switch

Detector

Removable SM1T1 Internally

Threaded SM1 Coupler and
SM1RR Retaining Ring

Figure 1 Features of the PDA015C2 Amplified Fixed Gain Detector

Maintenance and Care

There are no serviceable parts in the PDA015C2 detector’s optical head or the LDS12B external power supply. The
housing may be cleaned by wiping with a soft damp cloth. The window of the detector should only be cleaned
using optical grade wipes. If you suspect a problem with your PDA015C2 detector, please contact us at
[email protected] and an engineer will be happy to assist you.

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 3: Setup Guide

Chapter 3 Setup Guide

The detector can be set up in many ways using our extensive line of adapters. However, the detector should
always be mounted and secured for best operation.
1. Unpack the optical head, install either an imperial or metric optical post into one of the mounting holes
located on the bottom and side of the sensor, and mount using a post holder. Note that these detectors
feature tapped holes that accept both 8-32 and M4 x 0.7 threads, so using either imperial or metric posts
is possible.
2. Connect the LDS12B power supply 3-pin plug into the power receptacle on the PDA015C2 detector.
3. Set the voltage selector switch on the power supply to the appropriate input voltage (100, 120, or 230
VAC), then plug into a 50 - 60 Hz outlet.

Caution!
If the voltage selector switch on the LDS12B power supply is set to the wrong voltage, the power supply
may be damaged. Always ensure that the LDS12B voltage selector is set correctly before plugging the power
supply into mains power.

Caution!
Immediately after the power switch on the PDA015C2 detector is switched on, the detector’s output will go
to its maximum voltage (5 V for 50 Ω load or 10 V for Hi-Z) for approximately 200 ms. For sensitive
equipment, turn on the PDA015C2 detector using the sliding switch before connecting to its output.

4. Attach a 50 Ω BNC-type coaxial cable (i.e. RG-58U) to the output of the PDA. For best performance, we
recommend terminating the cable with a 50 Ω load at the measurement instrument. If the instrument has
a high impedance input, then adding an external 50 Ω load resistor may be an option. Do not add an
external 50 Ω resistor if the instrument has an internal 50 Ω termination, as the resulting 25 Ω load could
damage the output of the PDA015C2 detector.
5. Power the PDA015C2 detector on by moving the power switch located on the side of the unit to the “I”
position. (“O” indicates the unit is off.) Note that Steps 4 and 5 can be reversed when using sensitive test
equipment.
6. Install any desired filters, optics, or fiber adapters to the input aperture.
7. Apply the light source to the detector. Be sure not to overfill the detector area, as this can affect the
frequency response.
8. The maximum output of the PDA015C2 detector is 10 V for high impedance loads and 5 V for 50 Ω loads.
The output signal should be below the maximum output voltage to avoid saturation. If necessary, use
external neutral density filters to reduce the input light level.

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 3

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 3: Setup Guide

Caution!
The PDA015C2 detector was designed to allow maximum accessibility to the photodetector by having the
front surface of the PD TO-can nearly flush with the outside of the PDA housing. When using fiber adapters,
make sure that the fiber ferrule does not crash into the TO-can window. Failure to do so may cause damage
to the TO-can window and/or the fiber.

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 4: Operation

Chapter 4 Operation
Theory of Operation
Thorlabs’ PDA015C2 detector is ideal for measuring both modulated/pulsed and CW light sources. As is shown in
Figure 2, the PDA015C2 detector includes a reverse-biased PIN photodiode (PD) mated to a fixed gain
transimpedance amplifier (TIA) followed by a buffer amplifier and packaged in a rugged housing. The photodiode
generates a current in response to the optical input which is then converted to a voltage and amplified by the TIA.
The buffer amplifier adds yet another level of gain. Note that the output is passed through a 50 Ω series resistor
before reaching the output connector. The user can apply either a 50 Ω or high-impedance external load
depending on the situation.

Figure 2 Block Diagram of the PDA015C2 Amplified InGaAs Photodetector

Responsivity and Dark Current

The responsivity of a photodiode can be defined as a ratio of generated photocurrent (I PD) to the incident light
power (P) at a given wavelength (in units of A/W):
𝐼𝑃𝐷
(𝜆𝑝 ) =
𝑃
The dark current is defined as the current from the photodiode when no light is applied. Depending on the
photodiode size, material, and reverse-bias voltage, the dark current can range from less than 1 nA up to many
μA. In the case of the PDA015C2 detector, in most cases the dark current is small enough to ignore (<3 nA).

Note that the PDA015C2 detector also has a dark output voltage (see specifications in Chapter 7), which is
dominated by the input offset voltage error of the TIA. This is significantly larger than any contribution due to
the PD dark current.

Transimpedance and Conversion Gain

The transimpedance gain (TG) of the PDA015C2 detector is the total gain of both amplifier stages (in units of V/A).
The conversion gain (CG) (in units of V/W) is simply the product of the photodiode responsivity (( λ p)) and the
transimpedance gain.
As a result, the output voltage for a given optical power and wavelength is given by the input optical power times
the conversion gain.

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 5

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 4: Operation

However, the user should be aware that changing the final load resistance on the PDA015C2 detector changes the
conversion gain of the system. This is due to the internal 50 Ω series resistor shown in the block diagram.
The final load resistance creates a voltage divider with the 50 Ω series resistor (Rs). This changes the CG according
to the following scale factor.
𝑅𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 =
𝑅𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 + 𝑅𝑆
The actual CG is then given by the CG times the scale factor. Note that for a high impedance external load, the CG
and actual CG are the same. For a 50 Ω external load, the actual CG is a factor of two smaller than the CG.
It is for this reason that the maximum output of the PDA015C2 detector is 10 V for high impedance loads and 5 V
for 50 Ω loads. The user should also be aware that the linear, low distortion output range of the PDA015C2
detector is limited to about 6 V (3 V with a 50 Ω load) at maximum bandwidth to avoid saturation. This is limited
by the maximum slew rate of the amplifier. Larger, linear swing can be achieved when not running at maximum
bandwidth.
For best signal integrity, we recommend using a 50 Ω coaxial cable with a 50 Ω terminating resistor at the output
end of the cable. This will minimize ringing by matching the cable with its characteristic impedance. If more output
voltage is required, the load resistance can be increased. However, when the load resistance does not match the
cable impedance, the length of the coaxial cable can have a negative impact on the signal integrity, unless the
cable is kept very short.
The PDA015C2 detector is DC coupled, which means there is no low frequency cutoff and the output voltage will
have a DC component that is proportional to the average optical power. Some instruments such as spectrum
analyzers may require a DC block to prevent damage to the instrument. If a DC block is used, ensure that it has a
flat frequency response up to 1 GHz to avoid adding distortion.
Some instruments may not support the high output voltage capability of the PDA015C2 detector. In these cases,
an RF attenuator can be added between the PDA015C2 detector and the instrument to prevent damage to the
instrument. If an attenuator is added, ensure that it supports at least 1 GHz bandwidth to avoid adding distortion.
Note that RF attenuators are typically only meant to be used in systems where the load is 50 Ω. Also, note that
the attenuator will not perform correctly with an instrument with high impedance inputs.

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 5: Troubleshooting

Chapter 5 Troubleshooting

Problem Suggested Solutions

Verify that the power is switched on and all connections are
secure.
Verify that the power indicator LED on the power supply and
the LED on the PDA are both on.
There is no signal response.
Verify that the optical signal wavelength is within the specified
wavelength range.
Verify that the optical signal is illuminating the detector active
area.
Check to make sure the detector is not saturated. Refer to the
Output Voltage spec. in the Specifications table.
Be sure that no stray or unwanted light is entering the
Output Voltage will not increase.
detector.
Detector Output is skewed.
Install a 1" Lens Tube (SM1L10) to the thread coupler (SM1T1)
to baffle any external light sources to see if this improves the
response.

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 7

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Chapter 6 Specifications

Electrical Specificationsa
Detector - InGaAs PIN Photodiode
Active Area - Ø150 µm (0.018 mm2)
Wavelength Range λ 800 to 1700 nm
Peak Wavelength λp 1550 nm
b
Optical Input Power, Max - 180 µW
Peak Responsivity (𝜆𝑝 ) 0.95 A/W
Small Signal Bandwidth - 380 MHz
Impulse Response - 1 ns (FWHM)
c
NEP (λp) - 20 pW//√Hz (DC - 380 MHz)
Output Noise (RMS)c - 9 mVRMS (DC - 380 MHz)
Output Current, Max IOUT 100 mA
Output Dark Offset - 20 mV
Load Impedance - 50 Ω to Hi-Z
Transimpedance Gain
Hi-Z - 5 x 104 V/A
50 Ω 2.5 x 104 V/A
0 to 5 V (50 Ω)
Output Voltage VOUT
0 to 10 V (Hi-Z)
3 V (50 Ω)
Linear Outputd, Max -
6 V (Hi-Z)
2.5 V/ns (50 Ω)
Output Slew Rate, Max -
5 V/ns (Hi-Z)
a) All performance specifications are typical and assume a 50 Ω load unless stated otherwise.
b) For Linear Operation
c) Measured with a 50 Ω Load
d) Linear operating range is restricted due to slew rate limitations at the maximum bandwidth.

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

General Specifications
On/Off Switch Slide
BNC (DC Coupled)
Output
50 Ω Impedance
2.79" x 1.96" x 0.89"
Package Sizea
(70.9 mm x 49.8 mm x 22.5 mm)
PD Surface Depthb 0.16" (4.1 mm)
Weight, Detector Only 0.1 kg
SM1T1 Coupler
Accessories
SM1RR Retaining Ring
Operating Temp 10 to 40 °C
Storage Temp -25 to 70 °C
AC/DC Power Supply (LDS12B)
+ 12.0 V @ 0.25 A,
DC Output
- 12.0 V @ 0.25 A
100 VAC / 120 VAC / 230 VAC,
Input Voltage
Switch Selectable
Output Regulation ± 5% Measured at Output Connector
Output Power (Rated) 6 W (Max)
Input Current 0.25 A / 0.5 A (Max)
Input Frequency 60 / 50 Hz
a) Not Including SM1T1 Adapter
b) The Distance from the Front Edge of the External SM1 Threading to the Active
Surface of the Photodiode

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 9

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Responsivity
Typical Responsivity
1.2

Responsivity (A/W) 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Wavelength (nm)
Figure 3 Typical Responsivity of the PDA015C2 Detector

Temporal Response
Typical Impulse Response
1.2

1.0
Amplitude (a.u.)

0.8

0.6
1.0 ns
0.4

0.2

0.0

-0.2
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (ns)
Figure 4 Typical Impulse Response of the PDA015C2 Detector

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Typical Impulse Response

1.2

1.0

Amplitude (a.u.) 0.8

0.6
1.0 ns
0.4

0.2

0.0

-0.2
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Time (ns)
Figure 5 Typical Step Response of the PDA015C2 Detector

Frequency Response
Typical Frequency Response
3
0
-3
Power (dB)

-3 dB Bandwidth
-6
-9
-12
-15
-18
-21
-24
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 6 Typical Frequency Response of the PDA015C2 Detector

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 11

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Electrical Return Loss

Typical Electrical Return Loss
0
-5
-10
-15
S22 (dB)

-20
-25
-30
-35
-40
-45
-50
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 7 Typical Electrical Return Loss of the PDA015C2 Detector

Noise Spectrum
Typical Noise Spectrum
-50

-55
Power (dBm)

-60

-65

-70

-75

-80
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 8 Typical Noise Spectrum for the PDA015C2 Detector, Measured with a 50 Ω Load and 900 kHz
Resolution Bandwidth

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Noise Equivalent Power (NEP)

Each point on this curve was calculated by integrating the noise power from DC to the given frequency value and
then dividing by the square root of that bandwidth. The NEP gives the amount of input optical power required to
match the output noise level. The actual output noise level (in mVRMS) can be calculated by multiplying the data in
this graph by the conversion gain and the square root of the bandwidth.

Typical NEP
20
18
NEP (pW/Hz1/2)

16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 9 Typical NEP for the PDA015C2 detector at the Maximum Responsivity Wavelength, Measured
with a 50 Ω Load

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 13

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 6: Specifications

Mechanical Drawing

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 7: Certificate of Conformance

Chapter 7 Certificate of Conformance

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 15

InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 8: Warranty and RMA Information

Chapter 8 Warranty and RMA Information

Thorlabs verifies our compliance with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
directive of the European Community and the corresponding national laws. Accordingly, all end
users in the EC may return “end of life” Annex I category electrical and electronic equipment sold
after August 13, 2005 to Thorlabs, without incurring disposal charges. Eligible units are marked
with the crossed out “wheelie bin” logo (see right), were sold to and are currently owned by a
company or institute within the EC and are not dissembled or contaminated. Contact Thorlabs for
more information. Waste treatment is your own responsibility. “End of life” units must be returned Annex I
to Thorlabs or handed to a company specializing in waste recovery. Do not dispose of the unit in a litter bin or at
a public waste disposal site. It is the user’s responsibility to delete all private data stored on the device
prior to disposal.

Return of Devices

This precision device is only serviceable if returned and properly packed into the complete original packaging
including the complete shipment plus the cardboard insert that holds the enclosed devices. If necessary, ask for
replacement packaging. Refer servicing to qualified personnel.

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InGaAs Amplified Fixed Gain Detector Chapter 9: Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

Chapter 9 Thorlabs Worldwide Contacts

For technical support or sales inquiries, please visit us at www.thorlabs.com/contact for our most up-to-date
contact information.

USA, Canada, and South America UK and Ireland

Thorlabs, Inc. Thorlabs Ltd.
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

Europe Scandinavia
Thorlabs GmbH Thorlabs Sweden AB
[email protected] [email protected]

France Brazil
Thorlabs SAS Thorlabs Vendas de Fotônicos Ltda.
[email protected] [email protected]

Japan China
Thorlabs Japan, Inc. Thorlabs China
[email protected] [email protected]

Rev. A, June 30, 2023 Page 17

www.thorlabs.com