Income Taxes - (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) subsidiary
Income Taxes
Unrecognized tax benefits interest and penalties	$ 0	$ 0
Unrecognized tax benefits accrued interest and penalties	0	$ 0
Number of partially owned subsidiaries \| subsidiary		3
Federal income tax benefit or expense	$ 0	$ 0

Represents the number of partially owned subsidiaries by the entity.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries for deferred tax liabilities not recognized as of the report date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axti_
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- Definition

Amount of current federal tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Current Tax Expense (or Benefit)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509736

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 6.I.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32639-109319

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65882285&loc=d3e32718-109319

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant