Multi-Color Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors for Mid-, Long-, and Very Long- Wavelength Infrared Applications (invited)

Abstract

AbstractQuantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have been widely investigated for the 3–5 μm mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and 8–12 μm long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) atmospheric spectral windows as well as very long wavelength infrared (VLWIR: λc 14 μm) detection in the past decade. The mature III-V compound semiconductor growth technology and the design flexibility of device structures have led to the rapid development of various QWIP structures for infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) applications. In addition to the single-color QWIP with narrow bandwidth, the multi-color QWIP required for advanced IR sensing and imaging applications have also been emerged in recent years. Using band gap engineering approach, the multi-color (2, 3, and 4- color) QWIPs using multi-stack quantum wells with different well width and depth and voltage-tunable triple- coupled quantum well (TCQW) structure for detection in the MWIR, LWIR, and VLWIR bands have been demonstrated. In this paper, the design, fabrication, and characterization of a voltage-tunable 2-stack 3-color QWIP for MW/LW/LW IR detection and a 3-stack 3-color QWIP for detection in the water, ozone, and CO2 atmospheric blocking bands are depicted.