Intersubband Infrared Photodetectors

Infrared technologies are very important for a wide range of military, scientific and commercial applications. Devices and systems based on semiconductor heterostructure and quantum well and quantum dot structures open up a new era in infrared technologies. This book deals with various topics related to the latest achievements in the development of intersubband infrared photodetectors, reviewed by top experts in the field. It covers physical aspects of the operation of the devices as well as details of their design in different applications. The papers included in the book will be useful for researchers and engineers interested in the physics of optoelectronic devices as well as their practical design and applications. Contents: Quantum Well Infrared Photoconductors in Infrared Detectors Technology (A Rogalski)Imaging Performance of Advanced QWIP Focal Plane Arrays (A Goldberg)GaAs/AlGaAs Multi-Quantum-Well-Based Infrared Focal Plane Arrays for Infrared Imaging Applications (S D Gunapala & S V Bandara)Corrugated Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors and Arrays (K K Choi)Multi-Color, Broadband Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors for Mid-, Long-, and Very Long-Wavelength Infrared Applications (S S Li)QWIPs Designed for High Absorption and High Operating Temperature (H C Liu et al.)Quantum Structures for Far-Infrared Detection (A G U Perera & S G Matsik)Germanium Self-Assembled Quantum Dots in Silicon for Mid-Infrared Photodetectors (A I Yakimov & A V Dvurechenskii)QWIP–LED Pixelless Thermal Imaging Device (H C Liu et al.)Electrodynamic Response of Multiple Quantum Wells. The Intersubband Resonance Region (M Zaluzny & W Zietkowski) Readership: Graduate students, researchers and practitioners in electrical & electronic engineering, optoelectronics and physics. Keywords:Infrared Radiation;Photodetector;Quantum Well;Intersubband Transitions

Infrared technologies are very important for a wide range of military, scientific and commercial applications. Devices and systems based on semiconductor heterostructure and quantum well and quantum dot structures open up a new era in infrared technologies.This book deals with various topics related to the latest achievements in the development of intersubband infrared photodetectors, reviewed by top experts in the field. It covers physical aspects of the operation of the devices as well as details of their design in different applications. The papers included in the book will be useful for researchers and engineers interested in the physics of optoelectronic devices as well as their practical design and applications.

In the past, infrared imaging has been used exclusively for military applications. In fact, it can also be useful in a wide range of scientific and commercial applications. However, its wide spread use was impeded by the scarcity of the imaging systems and its high cost. Recently, there is an emerging infrared technology based on quantum well intersubband transition in III-V compound semiconductors. With the new technology, these impedances can be eliminated and a new era of infrared imaging is in sight. This book is designed to give a systematic description on the underlying physics of the new detectors and other issues related to infrared managing.

Semiconductors and Semimetals has distinguished itself through the careful selection of well-known authors, editors, and contributors. Originally widely known as the "Willardson and Beer" Series, it has succeeded in publishing numerous landmark volumes and chapters. The series publishes timely, highly relevant volumes intended for long-term impact and reflecting the truly interdisciplinary nature of the field. The volumes in Semiconductors and Semimetals have been and will continue to be of great interest to physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and device engineers in academia, scientific laboratories and modern industry. Written and edited by internationally renowned experts Relevant to a wide readership: physicists, chemists, materials scientists, and device engineers in academia, scientific laboratories and modern industry

Addressed to both students as a learning text and scientists/engineers as a reference, this book discusses the physics and applications of quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). It is assumed that the reader has a basic background in quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, and semiconductor devices. To make this book as widely accessible as possible, the treatment and presentation of the materials is simple and straightforward. The topics for the book were chosen by the following criteria: they must be well-established and understood; and they should have been, or potentially will be, used in practical applications. The monograph discusses most aspects relevant for the field but omits, at the same time, detailed discussions of specialized topics such as the valence-band quantum wells.

The International Workshop on "Intersubband Transitions in Quantum Wells:: Physics and Applications," was held at National Cheng Kung University, in Tainan, Taiwan, December 15-18, 1997. The objective of the Workshop is to facilitate the presentation and discussion of the recent results in theoretical, experimental, and applied aspects of intersubband transitions in quantum wells and dots. The program followed the tradition initiated at the 1991 conference in Cargese-France, the 1993 conference in Whistler, B. C. Canada, and the 1995 conference in Kibbutz Ginosar, Israel. Intersubband transitions in quantum wells and quantum dots have attracted considerable attention in recent years, mainly due to the promise of various applications in the mid- and far-infrared regions (2-30 J. lm). Over 40 invited and contributed papers were presented in this four-day workshop, with topics covered most aspects of the intersubband transition phenomena including: the basic intersubband transition processes, multiquantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) physics, large format (640x480) GaAs QWIP (with 9. 0 J. lffi cutoff) focal plane arrays (FPAs) for IR imaging camera applications, infrared modulation, intersubband emission including mid- and long- wavelength quantum cascade (QC) lasers such as short (A. "" 3. 4 J. lm) and long (A. "" 11. 5 J. lm) wavelength room temperature QC lasers, quantum fountain intersubband laser at 15. 5 J. lm wavelength in GaAs/AIGaAs quantum well, harmonic generation and nonlinear effects, ultra-fast phenomena such as terahertz (THz) intersubband emission and detection. The book divides into five Chapters.

This timely work presents a comprehensive overview of the development of new generations of infrared detectors based on artificially synthesized quantum structures. The growth of quantum wells and superlattices is well documents in this volume, as are the principal new superlattice technologies for long wavelength infrared detection. Featuring insightful contributions from researchers working at the "cutting edge" of this exciting field, this volume is sure to become an essential reference for advanced graduate students and researchers alike.