Sensitivity assessment of 4.8 <i>μ</i>m cutoff GaInAsSbBi <i>nBn</i> photodetectors for mid-wave infrared sensing applications
Abstract
GaInAsSbBi nBn photodetectors are grown lattice-matched on GaSb by molecular beam epitaxy. Device structures exhibit smooth surface morphologies, minority carrier lifetimes on the order of 0.5 μs at 130 K, and demonstrate a 4.8 μm wavelength cutoff, a 0.3 μm cutoff extension to a Bi-free GaInAsSb nBn counterpart. Dark current and quantum efficiency measurements of the nBn provide a 3–5 μm in-band shot-noise-limited noise-equivalent irradiance that is ∼12× the Rule 07 reference in which unity quantum efficiency is assumed. The analysis of the device behavior indicates that detector performance is limited by the valence band alignment at the barrier/active region interface, which imparts a barrier to photocollection at lower operating biases and leads to a significant reduction in the quantum efficiency with decreasing temperature. While more investigation is required to optimize the valence band alignment, the results in these detectors indicate that performance comparable to Rule 07 is within reach.
Article Details
Journal Info
Journal of Applied Physics
American Institute of Physics
Authors (13)
Rigo A. Carrasco
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Warfare Directorate 2 , Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117,
Preston T. Webster
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Warfare Directorate 2 , Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117,
Alexander T. Newell
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB 1 , New Mexico 87117,
Christopher P. Hains
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB 1 , New Mexico 87117,
Joshua M. Duran
Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate 3 , Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433,
Gamini Ariyawansa
Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate 3 , Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433,
Aaron J. Muhowski
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas Austin 2 , Austin, Texas 78758,
Victor J. Patel
Sandia National Laboratories 4 , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87117,
Samuel D. Hawkins
Sandia National Laboratories 4 , Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185,
Zinah M. Alsaad
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB 1 , New Mexico 87117,
Julie V. Logan
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland AFB 1 , New Mexico 87117,
Christian P. Morath
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Warfare Directorate 2 , Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117,
Diana Maestas
Air Force Research Laboratory, Space Warfare Directorate 2 , Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117,