InAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors with different growth temperatures

InAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors were fabricated with quantum dots grown at three different temperatures. Large detection wavelength shift (5–14.5 μm) was demonstrated by changing 40 degrees of the epitaxy temperature. The smaller quantum dots grown at lower temperature generate 14.5 μm responses. The detectivity of the normal incident 15 μm QDIP at 77 K is 3 × 10⁸ cm Hz^1/2/W. A three-color detector was also demonstrated with quantum dots grown at medium temperature. The three-color detection comes from two groups of different sizes of dots within one QD layer. This new type of multicolor detector shows unique temperature tuning behavior that was never reported before.     

Performance investigations of quantum dot infrared photodetectors

Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) have already attracted more and more attention in recent years due to a high photoconductive gain, a low dark current and an increased operating temperature. In the paper, a device model for the QDIP is proposed. It is assumed that the total electron transport and the self-consistent potential distribution under the dark conditions determine the dark current calculation of QDIP devices in this model. The model can be used for calculating the dark current, the photocurrent and the detectivity of QDIP devices, and these calculated results show a good agreement with the published results, which illustrate the validity of the device model.     

Non-Gaussian noise in quantum wells infrared photodetectors

Non-Gaussian dark current noise has been observed in quantum wells infrared photo detectors. The non-Gaussian component of the noise was ascribed to fluctuations of spatial distribution of electric field in the device. Non-Gaussian noise was found in both n- and p-type QWIPs, however, it was significantly less pronounce. In n-type devices non-Gaussian noise manifests itself only as randomly distributed excess current bursts. In p-type QWIPs the non-Gaussian noise takes form of bias dependent random telegraph-like fluctuations with a finite time of transition between the levels. The lifetime at both levels is Poisson distributed and the average lifetime, together with the level spacing, strongly depend on bias voltage. At low voltages the system stays predominantly in the low current level while at higher voltages the average lifetime of the high current level is longer. The transient time of passing between the states has been related to the charging time constant of the system determined by QWIP capacitance and contacts resistance.     

量子点红外探测器的噪声表征

为了表征噪声对量子点红外探测器性能的影响, 本文推导了噪声的理论模型. 该模型通过考虑纳米尺度电子传输和微米尺度电子传输对激发能的共同影响, 并结合噪声增益, 实现了对噪声的估算. 得到的结果与实验的数据相比, 显示了很好的一致性, 从而验证了这个模型的正确性. 关键词： 电子传输 暗电流 增益 噪声     

Quadratic detection with two-photon quantum well infrared photodetectors

Two-photon quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) involving three equidistant subbands take advantage of a resonantly enhanced optical nonlinearity, which is six orders of magnitude stronger than in a bulk semiconductor. This approach results in a sensitive device to measure quadratic autocorrelation of mid-infrared optical pulses from modelocked quantum cascade lasers, nonlinear optical conversion, and free-electron lasers (FEL). We report on autocorrelation measurements at wavelengths in the mid-infrared and Terahertz regimes using ps optical pulses from the FEL at the Forschungszentrum Dresden Rossendorf. In particular, quadratic detection at wavelengths around 5.5 μm is still possible at room-temperature, which is crucial for applications in practical systems. We also report on a two-photon detector which works below the Reststrahlen band at 42 μm (7.1 THz).     

Temperature dependent responsivity of quantum dot infrared photodetectors

Temperature dependent behavior of the responsivity of InAs/GaAs quantum dot infrared photodetectors was investigated with detailed measurement of the current gain. The current gain varied about two orders of magnitude with 100 K temperature change. Meanwhile, the change in quantum efficiency is within a factor of 10. The dramatic change of the current gain is explained by the repulsive coulomb potential of the extra carriers in the QDs. With the measured current gain, the extra carrier number in QDs was calculated. More than one electron per QD could be captured as the dark current increases at 150 K. The extra electrons in the QDs elevated the Fermi level and changed the quantum efficiency of the QDIPs. The temperature dependence of the responsivity was qualitatively explained with the extra electrons.     

Progress in quantum well and quantum cascade infrared photodetectors in SITP

This paper presents a review of recent advances in quantum well and quantum cascade infrared photodetectors developed in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences(SITP/CAS). Firstly, the temperature-and bias-dependent photocurrent spectra of very long wavelength(VLW) GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetectors(QWIPs) are studied using spectroscopic measurements and corresponding theoretical calculations in detail. We confirm that the first excited state, which belongs to the quasi-bound state, can be converted into a quasi-continuum state induced by bias and temperature. Aided by band structure calculations, we propose a model of the double excited states that determine the working mechanism in VLW QWIPs. Secondly, we present an overview of a VLW QWIP focal plane array(FPA)with 320×256 pixels based on the bound to quasi-bound(BTQB) design. The technology of the manufacturing FPA based on the QWIP structures has been demonstrated. At the operating temperature of 45 K, the detectivity of QWIP FPA is larger than 1.4×10~(10) cm·Hz~(1/2)/W with a cutoff wavelength larger than 16 μm. Finally, to meet the needs of space applications, we proposed a new long wavelength quantum cascade detector with a broadband detection ranging from 7.6 μm to 10.4 μm. With a pair of identical coupled quantum wells separated by a thin barrier, acting as absorption regions, the relative linewidth(?E/E) of response can be dramatically broadened to 30.7%. It is shown that the spectral shape and linewidth can be tuned by the thickness of the thin barrier, while it is insensitive to the working temperature. The device can work above liquid nitrogen temperature with a peak responsivity of 63 mA/W and Johnson noise limited detectivity of 5.1×10~9 cm·Hz~(1/2)/W.     

Effect of ion implantation on quantum well infrared photodetectors

Ion implantation is a postgrowth processing technique which, when combined with annealing, can be used to tune the absorption wavelength of quantum well devices. We have implanted and annealed, three different quantum well infrared photodetector structures, and measured the absorption spectra of the samples by Fourier transform spectroscopy. The peak absorption wavelength shift of each structure has been calculated as a function of diffusion length by simulating the diffusion processes. We found different diffusion rates for the structures and attribute this to different numbers of as-grown defects. Our results indicate that agglomeration of single defects into defect clusters limits the ability of ion implantation to tune the wavelength of a structure with a higher number of as-grown defects. Thus, a structure with the lowest number of as-grown defects is most useful for fabricating a multi-color quantum well photodetector by ion implantation, because in this case ion implantation can enhance the diffusion rate considerably leading to large red- shift in peak absorption wavelength.     

Detectivity dependence of quantum dot infrared photodetectors on temperature

The detectivity of Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) has always attracted a lot attention as a very important performance parameter. In the paper, based on the theoretical model for the detectivity with the consideration of the common influence of the microscale electron transport, the nanoscale electron transport and the self-consistent potential distribution of the electrons, the dependence of the detectivity of the QDIP on temperature is discussed by analyzing the influence of the temperature on the average electrons number in a quantum dot. Specifically, the average electrons number in a quantum dot shows different change trends (from the increase to decrease) with the increase of the temperature, but the detectivity presents the single decrease trend with the temperature, which can provide the designers with the theoretical guidance for the performance optimization of the QDIP devices.     

Review of current progress in quantum dot infrared photodetectors

Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) have made significant progress after their early demonstration about a decade ago. We review the progress made by QDIP technology over the last few years and compare QDIPs with quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). It is shown that the performance of QDIPs has significantly improved using novel architectures such as dots‐in‐a‐well designs, and large‐format (1 K × 1 K) focal plane arrays have been realized. However, even though there are significant reports of performance parameters better than QWIPs from single‐pixel devices, QDIP‐based focal plane arrays are still a factor of 3–5 worse in terms of noise equivalent temperature difference. We discuss the reasons for the performance gap and the key scientific and technological challenges that need to be addressed to achieve the full potential of QD‐based technology.     

Investigation of the quantum dot infrared photodetectors dark current

Quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) are more efficient than other types of semiconductor based photodetectors; so it has become an actively developed field of research. In this paper quantum dot infrared photodetector dark current is evaluated theoretically. This evaluation is based on the model that was developed by Ryzhii et al. Here it is assumed that both thermionic emission and field-assisted tunneling mechanisms determine the dark current of QDIPs; moreover we have considered Richardson effect, which has not been taken into account in previous research. Then a new formula for estimating average number of electrons in a quantum dot infrared photodetector is derived. Considering the Richardson effect and field-assisted tunneling mechanisms in the dark current improves the accuracy of algorithm and causes the theoretical data to fit better in the experiment. The QDIPs dark current temperature and biasing voltage dependency, contribution of thermionic emission and field-assisted tunneling at various temperatures and biasing voltage in the QDIPs dark current are investigated. Moreover, the other parameter effects like quantum dot (QD) density and QD size effect on the QDIPs dark current are investigated.     

Performance improvement of quantum dot infrared photodetectors through modeling

This paper presents a method to evaluate and improve the performance of quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs). We proposed a device model for QDIPs. The developed model accounts for the self-consistent potential distribution, features of the electron capture and transport in realistic QDIPs in dark and illumination conditions. This model taking the effect of donor charges on the spatial distribution of the electric potential in the QDIP active region. The model is used for the calculation of the dark current, photocurrent and detectivity as a function of the structural parameters such as applied voltage, doping QD density, QD layers, and temperature. It explains strong sensitivity of dark current to the density of QDs and the doping level of the active region. In order to confirm our models and their validity on the practical applications, a comparison between the results obtained by proposed models and that experimentally published are conducted and full agreement is observed. Results show the effectiveness of methodology introduced.     

两端叠层结构的中长波量子阱红外探测器

采用分子束外延技术生长了两个叠层结构的双色量子阱红外探测器结构,并经过光刻和湿法刻蚀制作成两端结构的量子阱红外探测器单元器件. 通过改变量子阱势垒高度,势阱宽度,掺杂浓度,重复周期数等器件参数,可以使总电压在两个叠层之间产生适当的分布,从而使器件表现出不同的电压响应特点. 光电流谱测量显示,器件1随着外加偏置电压可实现对于中波大气红外窗口(3—5 μm)和长波大气红外窗口(8—12 μm)红外响应的切换,器件2在不同的偏置电压下可以对这两个波段同时做出响应. 本文探讨了两端叠层结构量子阱红外探测器的工作原 关键词： 电压调制 同时响应 量子阱红外探测器 双波段     

High responsivity, LWIR dots-in-a-well quantum dot infrared photodetectors

In this paper we report studies on normal incidence, InAs/In_0.15Ga_0.85As quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) in the dots-in-a-well (DWELL) configuration. Three QDIP structures with similar dot and well dimensions were grown and devices were fabricated from each wafer. Of the three devices studied, the first served as the control, the second was grown with an additional 400 Å AlGaAs blocking layer, and the third was grown on a GaAs n+ substrate with the intention of testing a single pass geometry. Spectral measurements on all three devices show one main peak in the long-wave IR (≈8 μm). The absorption was attributed to the bound-to-bound transition between the ground state of the InAs quantum dot and the ground state of the In_0.15Ga_0.85As well. Calibrated peak responsivity and peak detectivity measurements were performed on each device at 40, 60, and 80 K. For the same temperatures, frequency response measurements from 20 Hz to 4 kHz at a bias of V_b=−1 V were also performed. The addition of the blocking layer was shown to slightly enhance responsivity, which peaked at 2.4 A/W at 77 K, V_b=−1 V and responsivity was observed to be significantly reduced in the single pass (n+ substrate) sample. The rolloff of the frequency response was observed to be heavily dependent on temperature, bias, and irradiance. The results from the characterization of each sample are reported and discussed.     

量子点红外探测器在空间光电系统中的应用

为了更好地开发和利用空间资源,各国竞相通过向空间发射卫星、空间站、航天飞机等航天器来建立探测站点和通信网络以占据具有最大优势的位置,其中空间光电系统在探索新资源方面起到关键的作用.点对点的距离远、空间辐射强、温差较大等空间环境因素严重影响着光电系统性能的发挥,也向空间光电系统的稳定性和可靠性提出了挑战.本文提出将具有较高的探测灵敏度、工作温度、抗辐射能力和响应带宽的新型量子点红外探测器应用于空间光电系统,阐述了量子点红外探测器的基本工作原理和优点,并讨论了量子点红外探测器在空间应用的技术要求,分析了其在空间的激光雷达、卫星光通信和成像或者非成像系统中的应用.     

Multi-color tunneling quantum dot infrared photodetectors operating at room temperature

Quantum dot structures designed for multi-color infrared detection and high temperature (or room temperature) operation are demonstrated. A novel approach, tunneling quantum dot (T-QD), was successfully demonstrated with a detector that can be operated at room temperature due to the reduction of the dark current by blocking barriers incorporated into the structure. Photoexcited carriers are selectively collected from InGaAs quantum dots by resonant tunneling, while the dark current is blocked by AlGaAs/InGaAs tunneling barriers placed in the structure. A two-color tunneling-quantum dot infrared photodetector (T-QDIP) with photoresponse peaks at 6 μm and 17 μm operating at room temperature will be discussed. Furthermore, the idea can be used to develop terahertz T-QD detectors operating at high temperatures. Successful results obtained for a T-QDIP designed for THz operations are presented. Another approach, bi-layer quantum dot, uses two layers of InAs quantum dots (QDs) with different sizes separated by a thin GaAs layer. The detector response was observed at three distinct wavelengths in short-, mid-, and far-infrared regions (5.6, 8.0, and 23.0 μm). Based on theoretical calculations, photoluminescence and infrared spectral measurements, the 5.6 and 23.0 μm peaks are connected to the states in smaller QDs in the structure. The narrow peaks emphasize the uniform size distribution of QDs grown by molecular beam epitaxy. These detectors can be employed in numerous applications such as environmental monitoring, spectroscopy, medical diagnosis, battlefield-imaging, space astronomy applications, mine detection, and remote-sensing.     

HOT infrared photodetectors

At present, uncooled thermal detector focal plane arrays are successfully used in staring thermal imagers. However, the performance of thermal detectors is modest, they suffer from slow response and they are not very useful in applications requiring multispectral detection. Infrared (IR) photon detectors are typically operated at cryogenic temperatures to decrease the noise of the detector arising from various mechanisms associated with the narrow band gap. There are considerable efforts to decrease system cost, size, weight, and power consumption to increase the operating temperature in so-called high-operating-temperature (HOT) detectors. Initial efforts were concentrated on photoconductors and photoelectromagnetic detectors. Next, several ways to achieve HOT detector operation have been elaborated including non-equilibrium detector design with Auger suppression and optical immersion. Recently, a new strategies used to achieve HOT detectors include barrier structures such as nBn, material improvement to lower generation-recombination leakage mechanisms, alternate materials such as superlattices and cascade infrared devices. Another method to reduce detector’s dark current is reducing volume of detector material via a concept of photon trapping detector. In this paper, a number of concepts to improve performance of photon detectors operating at near room temperature are presented. Mostly three types of detector materials are considered — HgCdTe and InAsSb ternary alloys, and type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice. Recently, advanced heterojunction photovoltaic detectors have been developed. Novel HOT detector designs, so called interband cascade infrared detectors, have emerged as competitors of HgCdTe photodetectors.