Long-wavelength 640 x 484 GaAs/Al x Ga 1-x As quantum well infrared photodetector focal plane array camera

Abstract

A 9 micrometer cutoff 640 by 484 hand-held quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) camera has been demonstrated. Excellent imagery, with a noise equivalent differential temperature (NE(Delta) T) of 43 mK has been achieved. In this paper, we discuss the development of this very sensitive long wavelength infrared (LWIR) camera based on a GaAs/AlGaAs QWIP focal plane array (FPA) and its performance in quantum efficiency, NE(Delta) T, uniformity, and operability.