Fabrication and Properties of Warm Carrier Infrared Laser Detector

Abstract

A point-contact infrared detector based on the thermoelectric effect of warm carriers in p-type germanium is fabricated, and its detection properties at RF and infrared regions are studied. A nickel and indium plated thin tungsten whisker is used as a point contact electrode in order tomake the ohmic contact. The static current-voltage characteristics and detection properties at RF signal indicate that the detected signal of the evice is pro.uced by the nonlinear current-voltage characteristics.Antenna patterns at 118μm CH3OH and 10.6μm CO2 lasers support the idea that thed evice works as an antenna coupled detector at the infrared region.