  We present detector characterization of a state-of-the-art near-infrared
(950nm - 1650 nm) Discrete Avalanche Photodiode detector (NIRDAPD) 5x5 array.
We designed an experimental setup to characterize the NIRDAPD dark count rate,
photon detection efficiency (PDE), and non-linearity. The NIRDAPD array was
illuminated using a 1050 nm light-emitting diode (LED) as well as 980 nm, 1310
nm, and 1550 nm laser diodes. We find a dark count rate of 3.3x10$^6$ cps,
saturation at 1.2x10$^8$ photons per second, a photon detection efficiency of
14.8% at 1050 nm, and pulse detection at 1 GHz. We characterized this NIRDAPD
array for a future astrophysical program that will search for technosignatures
and other fast (>1 Ghz) astrophysical transients as part of the Pulsed All-sky
Near-infrared Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (PANOSETI)
project. The PANOSETI program will consist of an all-sky optical (350 - 800 nm)
observatory capable of observing the entire northern hemisphere instantaneously
and a wide-field NIR (950 - 1650 nm) component capable of drift scanning the
entire sky in 230 clear nights. PANOSETI aims to be the first wide-field
fast-time response near-infrared transient search.
