Computation of Frequency Response of Integrated Pyroelectric Infrared Detectors

Abstract

Pyroelectric detectors of infrared radiation are fast-response thermal sensors operating at ambient temperature unlike semiconductor detectors, which require cooling. Their spectral response is uniform in a large range of wavelengths, including main band of IR transmission of the earth's atmosphere. Triglycine Sulfate (TGS) based pyroelectric detectors are the most sensitive among available ferroelectric materials. The effective sensitivity and performance depend not only on the sensor element material characteristics but also on the thermal performance of the complete structure of a detector such as substrate material, absorbing layer, and isolation layers. Thus we have solved one-dimension thermal diffusion equation for an n-layered structure. From which the performance of any number of layers of a detector structure can be derived, predicted, and optimized. Using viable single element sensor configurations and pyroelectric parameters of deuterated triglycine sulfate (DTGS) crystals grown in our laboratory; the calculated and predicted current responsivity and other parameters are presented. A one dimensional heat conduction equation was solved analytically and the detector parameters were calculated using MatLab 6.0. The results obtained are encouraging for the development of DTGS based thin film-based detectors.