Detection band expansion by independently tunable double resonances in a long-wavelength dual-color QWIP.

Abstract

Multi-resonance light coupling management is a promising way to expand the operating spectral ranges of optoelectronic devices. The classical strategies are either lack of independent tunability for each resonance or involved with complex fabrication. Here, we propose a new scheme for expanding the operating spectral range of an optoelectronic device through a dual-color active material integrated with a simple resonant waveguide structure. The TM waveguide mode and the SPP mode of the resonant waveguide structure are regulated to match the two active regions of the dual-color material both spectrally and spatially. Applying this scheme to a long-wavelength infrared quantum well photodetector, the absorption efficiencies at the two peak detection wavelengths of the dual-color quantum wells are both enhanced by more than 10 times compared with the case of a standard 45° edge facet coupled device with the same detection material. The simple light coupling structure is easy to accomplish and compatible with focal plane arrays. For thermal radiation detection, the absorption efficiency of the 300 K blackbody radiation by our dual-color detector is 83.8% higher than that by a single-color detector with the optimized structural parameters. Moreover, either polarization sensitive or polarization insensitive detection could be achieved in this dual-color infrared quantum well photodetector by using anisotropic or isotropic gratings.