Analytical Simulation of an InAsSb Photovoltaic Detector for Mid-Infrared Applications

Abstract

A generic model of a mid-infrared photodetector based on a narrow bandgap semiconductor has been developed. The model has been applied for analysis and simulation of an InAs0.89Sb0.11 photovoltaic detector for operation at room temperature in 2–5 μm wavelength region. The model takes into account the effect of tunneling and other components of dark current on the detectivity of the device by considering all the three dominant recombination mechanisms e.g., radiative, Shockley-Read-Hall and Auger recombination. The study revealed that the dark current of the photodetector under reverse bias is dominated by trap-assisted tunneling component of current and this causes the detectivity of the device to decrease at high reverse bias. It is further concluded that by operating the device at a suitable low reverse bias it is possible to improve the room-temperature detectivity significantly as compared to its value at zero bias.