I worked with Dr. Steve Rolston for first quantum optics rotation in his lab studying four-wave mixing. My main goal in the first rotation was to characterize the performance of an avalanche photo diode that is to be used to detect a 1367nm light source. Specifically, I needed to determine the responsivity as a function of reverse bias voltage across the APD and determine the rise and fall time of the APD.
Here I present some background on the four-wave mixing experiment, some theory of photodiodes, and the results of my characterization of an APD that is to be used in detecting four-wave mixing.