Quantum well infrared photodetectors : physics and applications / H. Schneider, H.C. Liu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schneider, H. (Harald)

Contributor:

Liu, H. C.

Series:

Springer series in optical sciences ; v. 126.

Springer series in optical sciences, 0342-4111 ; 126

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Photon detectors.

Optoelectronic devices.

Quantum wells.

Infrared detectors.

Physical Description:

xvi, 248 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : Springer, 2007.

Summary:

Addressed to both students as a learning text and scientists/engineers as a reference, this book discusses the physics and applications of quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). It is assumed that the reader has a basic background in quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, and semiconductor devices. To make this book as widely accessible as possible, the treatment and presentation of the materials is simple and straightforward. The topics for the book were chosen by the following criteria: they must be well-established and understood; and they should have been, or potentially will be, used in practical applications. The monograph discusses most aspects relevant for the field but omits, at the same time, Detailed discussions of specialized topics such as the valence-band quantum wells.

Contents:

Part I Physics

2 Basics of Infrared Detection 5

2.1 Blackbody Radiation 5

2.2 Signal, Noise, and Noise-Equivalent Power 7

2.3 Detectivity and Noise-Equivalent Temperature Difference 10

3 Semiconductor Quantum Wells and Intersubband Transitions 13

3.1 Quantum Wells 13

3.2 Intersubband Transitions 13

3.3 Intersubband Transition: More Details 18

3.3.1 Basic Formulae 18

3.3.2 Calculations for a Symmetric Quantum Well 21

3.3.3 Transfer-Matrix Method 27

3.4 Corrections to the Intersubband Energy and Lineshape 29

3.4.1 Coulomb Interaction 29

3.4.2 Many-Particle Effects 31

3.4.3 Further Interactions 34

3.4.4 Band Nonparabolicity 36

3.5 Intersubband Relaxation and Carrier Capture 39

3.5.1 Electron-Phonon Interaction 40

3.5.2 Electron-Impurity and Electron-Electron Scattering 41

4 Photoconductive QWIP 45

4.1 Dark Current 45

4.1.1 Simple Models 45

4.1.2 Self-Consistent and Numerical Models 55

4.2 Photocurrent 57

4.2.1 Photoconductive Gain 57

4.2.2 Detector Responsivity 64

4.3 Detector Performance 65

4.3.1 Detector Noise 65

4.3.2 Detectivity and Blip Condition 67

4.4 Design of an Optimized Detector 72

4.5 THz QWIPs 75

4.5.1 Design Considerations 76

4.5.2 Experimental and Discussion 77

5 Photovoltaic QWIP 83

5.1 General Concept 83

5.2 The Four-Zone QWIP 85

5.2.1 Transport Mechanism and Device Structure 85

5.2.2 Responsivity and Dark Current 88

5.2.3 Noise 89

5.2.4 Detectivity 92

5.2.5 Time Dependence 93

5.2.6 Theoretical Performance of Low-Noise QWIPs 94

6 Optical Coupling 97

6.1 Simple Experimental Geometries 97

6.2 Gratings for Focal Plane Arrays 100

6.3 Strong Coupling in Waveguides, Polaritons, and Vacuum-Field Rabi Splitting 104

7 Miscellaneous Effects 107

7.1 Intersubband Absorption Saturation 107

7.2 Nonlinear Transport and Optical Effects 109

7.2.1 Extrinsic (Photoconductive) Nonlinearity 109

7.2.2 Negative Differential Photoconductivity and Electric Field Domains 115

7.2.3 Intrinsic Nonlinearity 121

7.3 Asymmetry Caused by Dopant Segregation 123

7.4 Coherent Photocurrent 125

7.4.1 Coherent Control by Optical Fields 125

7.4.2 Coherent Control Through Potential Offsets 128

7.5 Impact Ionization and Avalanche Multiplication 131

7.6 Radiation Hardness 135

8 Related Structures and Devices 139

8.1 High Absorption QWIPs 139

8.1.1 Absorption Measurements 139

8.1.2 Detector Characteristics 141

8.2 Multicolor QWIPs 144

8.2.1 Voltage Switched Multicolor QWIP 146

8.2.2 Voltage Tuned Multicolor QWIP 149

8.3 Interband and Intersubband Dual-band Detectors 151

8.3.1 Using the Same Quantum Well 151

8.3.2 Stacked QWIP and PIN 158

8.4 Integrated QWIP-LED 161

8.5 Quantum Dot Infrared Photodetector 163

8.5.1 Anticipated Advantages and Current Status 165

8.5.2 Areas for Improvement 170

8.6 Single Well and Blocked Miniband QWIPs 170

8.7 Transistors and Monolithic Integration 172

Part II Applications

9 Thermal Imaging 175

9.1 Signal, Noise, and Noise-Equivalent Temperature Difference 175

9.1.1 Signal Detection 175

9.1.2 Detector Noise 177

9.1.3 System Noise 178

9.1.4 Thermal Resolution 179

9.1.5 Fixed-Pattern Noise and NETD of an Array 181

9.1.6 Modulation Transfer Function 183

9.2 QWIP Cameras 185

9.2.1 Fabrication of QWIP FPAs 185

9.2.2 System Integration 187

9.2.3 Camera Performance 188

9.3 MWIR/LWIR Dual-Band QWIP FPA 190

9.3.1 Detector Concept 191

9.3.2 Array Fabrication and FPA Layout 193

9.3.3 Properties of Dual-Band QWIP Test Devices 194

9.3.4 System Integration and Dual-Band QWIP FPA Performance 195

9.4 Opportunities for QWIP FPAs in Thermal Imaging 196

9.5 Alternative Architecture and New Functionality of QWIP FPAs 199

10 Dynamics, Ultrafast, and Heterodyne 203

10.1 Dynamic Processes in QWIPs 203

10.1.1 Quantum Well Recharging 204

10.1.2 Picosecond Photocurrent 208

10.2 High Frequency and Heterodyne QWIPs 213

10.2.1 Microwave Rectification 213

10.2.2 Heterodyne Detection 216

10.3 Two-Photon QWIP 220

10.3.1 Equidistant Three-Level System for Quadratic Detection 220

10.3.2 Autocorrelation of Subpicosecond Optical Pulses 223

10.3.3 Externally Switchable Quadratic and Linear Response 225

11 Conclusions and outlook 229.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [231]-245) and index.

ISBN:

3540363238

OCLC:

73108720

Publisher Number:

9783540363231