50-Gbit/s vertical illumination avalanche photodiode for 400-Gbit/s ethernet systems

50-Gbit/s error-free operation is demonstrated by a high-speed avalanche photodiode for the first time. The APD exhibits 3-dB bandwidth of 35 GHz and excellent receiver sensitivity of -10.8 dBm at a BER of 10(-12) against non-return to zero input optical signals. These results indicate our APD is promising for the systems with serial baud rate of 50 Gbit/s such as 400-Gbit/s Ethernet systems. (C)2014 Optical Society of America