A normal-incident quantum well infrared photodetector enhanced by surface plasmon resonance

Wei Wu*, Alireza Bonakdar, Ryan Gelfand, Hooman Mohseni

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have demonstrated applications in many different areas, such as medical and biological imaging, environmental and chemical monitoring, and infrared imaging for space and night vision. However, QWIPs still suffer from low quantum efficiency and detectivity compared with mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) based interband photodetectors, which dominate current infrared detector market. Besides, n-type QWIPs cannot detect the normal incident infrared radiations because of the polarization selection rules of intersubband transitions. Here, we used periodic holes array perforated in gold film to convert normal-incident infrared light to surface plasmon waves, which can excite the intersubband transitions and be absorbed by quantum wells (QWs). Our 3D FDTD simulation results show that electric field component in the QWs growth direction can be enhanced by more than 5 times compared with the total electric field intensity without any plasmonic arrays. The experimental results show that the photodetector has a peak detection wavelength at ∼8 μm with a high detectivity of ∼7.4×1010 Jones, and the photocurrent spectrum was very close to the simulation result of the electric field enhancement spectrum.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationDetectors and Imaging Devices
Subtitle of host publicationInfrared, Focal Plane, Single Photon
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
EventDetectors and Imaging Devices: Infrared, Focal Plane, Single Photon - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 4 2010Aug 5 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7780
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherDetectors and Imaging Devices: Infrared, Focal Plane, Single Photon
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/4/108/5/10

Keywords

  • Enhancement
  • Photodetector
  • Surface plasmon

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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