Performance improvement of quantum well infrared photodetectors through modeling

Mohamed S. El-Tokhy; Imbaby I. Mahmoud; Hussein A. Konber

doi:10.1117/1.3502660

1 September 2010 Performance improvement of quantum well infrared photodetectors through modeling

Mohamed S. El-Tokhy, Imbaby I. Mahmoud, Hussein A. Konber

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Nanophotonics, Vol. 4, Issue 1, 043518 (September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3502660

Abstract

We study the performance of quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) in the case of infrared irradiation. This type of photodetector is interesting from the point of view that QWIPs have numerous advantages over photodetectors based on HgCdTe in terms of large array size, high uniformity, high yield, radiation hardness and lower cost of the systems. Therefore, it is important to evaluate their characteristics theoretically. We develop a simple modeling for this interesting type of photodetector. This model describes a nontrivial evaluation of the most important characteristics. The potential distribution of the developed model is obtained by self-consistently solving the Poisson equation. On the other hand, it is used to calculate the dark current, responsivity and detectivity as a function of the structural parameters. These parameters are the spacing between the wells, the number of quantum wells and the operating temperature. Also, the optimization of the characteristics of QWIPs is of primary concern. The effect of uniformity of the dopant density in the QWIP is studied theoretically. We find that the uniformity of the dopant distribution in the plane of QW decreases the dark current.

Citation Download Citation

Mohamed S. El-Tokhy, Imbaby I. Mahmoud, and Hussein A. Konber "Performance improvement of quantum well infrared photodetectors through modeling," Journal of Nanophotonics 4(1), 043518 (1 September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.3502660

Published: 1 September 2010

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available