Represents aggregate amount of royalty to be paid spread over the period of agreement.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	axti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Claim for credit due to the royalty bearing sales for the year is lower than a pre-determined amount set forth in the agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The period for which the annual installment is payable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axti_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents period of royalty agreement as stipulated in the terms of the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axti_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total estimated investment value to related party including assets and capital.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axti_TotalInvestmentAgreementValue
Namespace Prefix:	axti_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense related to royalty payments under a contractual arrangement such as payment for mineral and drilling rights and use of technology or intellectual property.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RoyaltyExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=axti_DingxingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=axti_KazuoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=axti_BeijingBoyuSemiconductorVesselCraftworkTechnologyCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=axti_SumitomoElectricIndustriesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=axti_FormalCrossLicenseAndCovenantAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2020	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019
Leases
Term of royalty agreement		8 years
Aggregate amount payable towards royalty		$ 7,000,000
Royalty expense		565,000	$ 526,000
Credit of royalty expense		$ 10,000	$ 49,000
Dingxing
Leases
Total investment agreement value				$ 90,000,000
Kazuo
Leases
Total investment agreement value				15,000,000
Kazuo \| Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co
Leases
Total investment agreement value				$ 8,000,000
Subsequent Event \| Sumitomo Electric Industries \| Formal cross license and covenant agreement
Leases
Payment period to Sumitomo	10 years