Highly strained InxGa(1−x)As−InyAl(1−y)As (x>0.8,y<0.3) layers for short wavelength QWIP and QCL structures grown by MBE

Highly strained quantum cascade laser (QCL) and quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIPs) structures based on In_xGa_(1−x)As−In_yAl_(1−y)As (x>0.8,y<0.3) layers have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Conditions of exact stoichiometric growth were used at a temperature of 420°C to produce structures that are suitable for both emission and detection in the 2–5 μm mid-infrared regime. High structural integrity, as assessed by double crystal X-ray diffraction, room temperature photoluminescence and electrical characteristics were observed. Strong room temperature intersubband absorption in highly tensile strained and strain-compensated In_0.84Ga_0.16As/AlAs/In_0.52Al_0.48As double barrier quantum wells grown on InP substrates is demonstrated. Γ–Γ intersubband transitions have been observed across a wide range of the mid-infrared spectrum (2–7 μm) in three structures of differing In_0.84Ga_0.16As well width (30, 45, and 80 Å). We demonstrate short-wavelength IR, intersubband operation in both detection and emission for application in QC and QWIP structures. By pushing the InGaAs–InAlAs system to its ultimate limit, we have obtained the highest band offsets that are theoretically possible in this system both for the Γ–Γ bands and the Γ–X bands, thereby opening up the way for both high power and high efficiency coupled with short-wavelength operation at room temperature. The versatility of this material system and technique in covering a wide range of the infrared spectrum is thus demonstrated.     

量子阱红外探测器能带结构的计算

利用电子波在阱与垒的界面上的反射及干涉效应，计算了量子阱红外探测器(QWIP)的能带结构，并对其适用性进行了分析和讨论。通过与K-P模型比较发现，本方法对计算较宽势阱(阱宽大于4nm)的量子阱结构的电子态适合。在垒宽和阱宽不变条件下，用两种方法计算得到的AlGaAs／GaAs量子阱材料中Al组分x与吸收峰值波长λp的关系曲线基本相同。结果说明，在较宽的范围内，本方法对QWIP能带结构的计算是适用且简便的。     

High resolution staring arrays answering compact MW and LW applications

This paper overviews the electro-optical and thermal performances of different types of infrared detectors manufactured by Sofradir. The detector’s fabrication processes and detector’s performance are shortly described. New staring arrays are more compact and offer system solutions required by infrared market. Special attention is directed to some reliability advantages of new dewar design. Finally, the development trends for highest resolution infrared detector are discussed. The paper presented there appears in Infrared Photoelectronics, edited by Antoni Rogalski, Eustace L. Dereniak, Fiodor F. Sizov, Proc. SPIE Vol. 5957, 59570U (2005).     

1/f Noise QWIPs and nBn detectors

The low-frequency noise is a ubiquitous phenomenon and the spectral power density of this fluctuation process is inversely proportional to the frequency of the signal. We have measured the 1/f noise of a 640 × 512 pixel quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane array (FPA) with 6.2 μm peak wavelength. Our experimental observations show that this QWIP FPA’s 1/f noise corner frequency is about 0.1 mHz. With this kind of low frequency stability, QWIPs could unveil a new class of infrared applications that have never been imagined before. Furthermore, we present the results from a similar 1/f noise measurement of bulk InAsSb absorber (lattice matched to GaSb substrate) nBn detector array with 4.0 μm cutoff wavelength.     

A 640 by 480 Pixels Readout Circuit for IR Imaging

A readout circuit for a 640 × 480 pixels FPA (focal plane array) has been successfully designed, fabricated and tested. The circuit solution is based on a per pixel source-follower direct injection (SFDI) pre-amplifier. Signal multiplexing is performed in both X and Y direction. The pixel size is 25 m × 25m. The chip is optimized for a QWIP (quantum well infrared photodetector) operating at a temperature of 70 K. The circuit has been realized in a standard 0.8 m CMOS process.     

LWIR/SWIR switchable two color device based on InP/InGaAs integrated HBT/QWIP

A novel two color infrared (IR) device that allows fast electrical switching between the short wavelength IR (SWIR) band (0.9–1.6 μm) and the long wavelength IR (LWIR) band (8–12 μm) is presented. The integrated sensor is based on MOCVD grown, lattice matched (to InP substrate) epilayers of InGaAs/InP and consists of two, monolithically integrated sections of heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) and quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP).     

新型电流镜积分红外量子阱探测器读出电路的设计分析

设计了一种偏压可调电流镜积分(Current Mirroring Integration,CMI)红外量子阱探测器焦平面CMOS读出电路。该电路适应根据偏压调节响应波段的量子阱探测器,其中探测器偏压从0.61 V到1.55V范围内可调。由于CMI的电流反馈结构,使得输入阻抗接近0,注入效率达0.99;且积分电容可放在单元电路外,从而可以在一定的单元面积下,增大积分电容,提高了电荷处理能力和动态范围;为提高读出电路的性能,电路加入撇除(Skimming)方式的暗电流抑制电路。采用特许半导体(Chartered)0.35 m标准CMOS工艺对所设计的电路(16×1阵列)进行流片,测试结果表明:在电源电压为3.3V,积分电容为1.25pF时,电荷处理能力达到1.3×107个电子;输出摆幅达到1.76V;功耗为25mW;动态范围为75dB;测试结果显示CMI可应用于高性能FPA。     

单轴压应变量子阱红外探测器吸收波长的研究

研究了单轴压应力对GaAs/AlGaAs/GaAs量子阱红外探测器(QWIP)吸收波长的影响。以量子阱电子干涉方法以及单轴压应力作用下量子阱应变理论为基础,分析了GaAs/AlGaAs/GaAs量子阱导带中子能级与应变的关系。理论上计算了单轴应力下四个QWIP吸收波长与应变的关系。结果表明,E1与E<1>能级之间的吸收波长和E(1)与EF能级之间的吸收波长随应变的增大而减小的幅度比E1与EF能级之间的吸收波长和E(0)与E1能级之间吸收波长随应变的增大减小的幅度大。     

QUANTUM MECHANICAL MODEL AND SIMULATION OF GaAs/AlGaAs QUANTUM WELL INFRARED PHOTO- DETECTOR-Ⅰ OPTICAL ASPECTS

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＩｎｆｒａｒｅｄｄｅｔｅｃｔｏｒｔｅｃｈｎｉｑｕｅｈａｓｂｅｅｎａｋｅｙｆａｃｔｏｒｉｎｔｈｅｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔｏｆｔｈｅｉｎｆｒａｒｅｄｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙｆｏｒｍｏｒｅｔｈａｎ 4 0 ｙｅａｒｓ .Ｓｉｎｃｅ 1970 ,ｓｅｍｉｃｏｎｄｕｃｔｏｒｓｌｉｋｅＩｎＳｂａｎｄＨｇＣｄＴｅｈａｖｅｂｅｅｎｔｈｅｐｒｉｎｃｉｐａｌｍａｔｅｒｉａｌｓｆｏｒｖａｒｉｏｕｓｉｎｆｒａｒｅｄｄｅｔｅｃｔｏｒａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｓ .Ｔｈｅｆｏｒｍａｔｏｆｔｈｅｉｎｆｒａｒｅｄｄｅｔｅｃｔｏｒｍｏｔｉｖａｔｅｄｂｙｓｍａｒｔｔｈｅｒｍａｌｉｍａｇｉｎｇｓｙｓｔｅｍｃｈａｎｇｅｄｆｒｏｍｓｉｎｇｌｅｅｌｅｍｅｎｔｄｅｖｉｃｅｔｏｆｏｃａｌｐｌａｎａｒｒａｙｓ(ＦＰＡｓ)ｉｎｔｈｅｍｉｄｄｌｅｏｆ 80’ｓ [1].Ｔｏｄａｙ’ｓｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙｏｆｉｎｆｒａｒｅｄｄｅｔｅｃｔｏｒｃｏｎｃｅｎｔｒａｔｅｓｌａｒｇｅｌｙｏｎｆｏｃａｌｐｌａｎａｒｒａｙｓ ,ｅｘｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙｆｏｒｓｅｎｓｉｔｉｖｅ ,ｈｏｍｏｇｅｎｅｏｕｓａｎｄｌａｒｇｅｆｏｒｍａｔｓｃａｌｅｄｅｖｉｃｅｓ .ＨｇＣｄＴｅ...     

20~×长波红外连续变焦光学系统设计

针对384×288长波量子阱焦平面探测器,设计了一个变倍比为20×的长波连续变焦光学系统,其工作波长范围为8～9 m,F数为3,可实现18.5～367mm的连续变焦。该系统由机械补偿变焦物镜和二次成像系统组成,包括6片透镜和2片反射镜,具有大变倍比、高分辨率、小体积、高像质等优点,并用ZEMAX光学设计软件进行了仿真计算和像质评价,在奈奎斯特频率20 lp/mm处,系统全焦距范围内的MTF接近衍射极限。