Mid-infrared photodetection in an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum-well infrared photodetector using photoinduced noise

Author(s)

Fernandes, F. M. ^{[1, 2]} ; da Silva, E. C. F. ^[1] ; Quivy, A. A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Optovac Mecan & Optoelet LTDA, BR-12244000 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Applied Physics; v. 118, n. 20 NOV 28 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

We propose a new way to assess the output signal of a quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP). Instead of measuring the photocurrent produced by the device, as usually done, we show that the noise induced by the absorption process can be used to generate a useful detection signal. We built a simple electronic circuit able to quantify the noise of an AlGaAs/GaAs QWIP that was intentionally designed to produce no photocurrent at all, and we demonstrated that such a circuit was able to generate a strong output signal whenever an infrared radiation of a specific wavelength was shed on the detector. This concept opens new possibilities for the design of novel types of photodetection systems. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/00841-7 - Responsivity and noise of infrared photodetectors based on quantum wells and dots grown by molecular-beam epitaxy
• Grantee: Alain André Quivy
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants