Three-stack, three-color quantum-well infrared photodetector for mid-, long-, and very long-wavelength infrared detection

Abstract

A high-performance three-stack, three-color quantum-well infrared photodetector for the mid-, long-, and very long-wavelength infrared detection has been developed in this work. The detection bandwidths with full-width at half-maximum are 5.9–7.0, 9.1–11.2, and 12.2–16.9 μm, which cover the major portion or entire range of the three atmospheric blocking bands: the water band (5.5–7.5 μm), the ozone band (9.4–9.9 μm), and the carbon dioxide band (14–16 μm). Values of the dark-current detectivity were found to be D*=8.5×1012 cm Hz1/2/W at T=40 K, Vb=−1.3 V, and λp=6.5 μm for the mid-wavelength infrared stack; D*=1.5×1010 cm Hz1/2/W at T=40 K, Vb=−1.4 V, and λp=10.1 μm for the long-wavelength infrared stack, and D*=1.2×1011 cm Hz1/2/W at T=30 K, Vb=−1.1 V, and λp=15.1 μm for the very long-wavelength infrared stack.