Resonant Cavity Photodetectors using thin GaInAs/GaAsSb Quantum wells

该计划的目标是开发中红外光电探测器使用磷化铟为基础的材料的应用程序中的高灵敏度和近室温操作是理想的。这些材料提供的优点包括将压缩和拉伸应变材料用于灵活的器件设计选项以及用于处理InP基结构的成熟的晶圆代工能力。该计划是变革性的，因为它将中红外光电子学耦合到一个技术平台，该技术平台在工业上已经得到了很好的发展，但目前还不允许使用该波长范围。其智慧上的优点是使用一种共振腔的方法，结合了一个薄的、应变的量子阱吸收区和高反射率的镜子。实验表明，这些量子威尔斯在室温下可以吸收3000 nm以上的光。通过一种新的应变补偿方法来增加应变，将允许检测波长的延伸。谐振腔的使用增加了量子威尔斯的光学吸收长度和物理厚度，导致更高的量子效率和更低的暗电流。该计划的更广泛的影响是创造一种技术，通过在军事和民用应用中的使用，可以对社会产生积极的影响。此外，该计划侧重于研究/教育整合的两个主要类别：招募有才华的本科生进行研究，以鼓励他或她攻读研究生课程，并开发可用于教育一年级工程学生的教育材料。

The objective of this program is to develop mid-infrared photodetectors using indium phosphide-based materials for applications where high sensitivity and near-room temperature operation are desired. These materials provides advantages including the use of compressive and tensile strained materials for flexible device design options and mature wafer foundry capabilities for processing InP-based structures. This program is transformative in that it couples mid-infrared optoelectronics to a technology platform that has been well developed in industry but does not currently allow use of this wavelength range. The intellectual merit is to use a resonant-cavity approach that combines a thin, strained quantum well absorption region with high-reflectivity mirrors. Experiments have shown that these quantum wells can absorb light beyond 3000 nm at room temperature. The addition of strain with a novel strain compensation approach will allow an extension of the detection wavelength. The use of a resonant cavity decouples the optical absorption length and physical thicknesses of the quantum wells leading to both higher quantum efficiency and lower dark currents. The broader impacts of this program are to create a technology that can have a positive influence on society through its use in both military and civilian applications. In addition, this program focuses on two main categories for research/education integration: recruiting a talented undergraduate to pursue research with the goal of encouraging him or her to pursue graduate studies and the development of educational materials which can be used to educate first-year engineering students on the societal benefits of this research.