A new type of quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) has been developed by NIST researchers, which could revolutionize infrared detection technology. The key innovation is the ability to inject light into the detector material layers in the plane of the material growth, rather than surface normal to the layers as in existing detectors.
This waveguide-QWIP design uses wafer bonding technology to attach the photodetector material to a separate wafer, allowing for a more efficient design with fewer quantum wells and smaller current flow areas. This results in higher responsivity and lower dark current noise, significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio compared to existing QWIPs and other competing technologies like MCT detectors and DLaTGS pyroelectric detectors.
The new detector architecture is expected to enable room-temperature operation with high sensitivity and speed, making it suitable for various applications including infrared spectroscopy, OCT, LIDAR, and communications. The fabrication process is also expected to be more cost-effective than current methods.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/patents/quantum-waveguide-infrared-photodetector-0
Keywords: Quantum, Photodetector, Infrared, Detection, Efficiency
