Enhanced broadband (11-15 µm) QWIP FPAs for space applications

Abstract

A thirty months European Space Agency project started in March 2008, whose overall purpose is to expand and assess the performance of broadband (11-15µm) quantum detectors for spectro-imaging applications: Dispersive Spectrometers and Fourier Transform Spectrometers. We present here the development approach and the progress status concerning the detector layer and read-out circuit. For Dispersive applications a 42K operating temperature is currently achieved, which can still be increased, to approach the 50K goal value. For FTS applications efficient broadband optical coupling is demonstrated.

Quantum well infrared photodetectors: present and future

“…4,5,26,27 As an example, the III-V Lab has provided a slightly broadband QWIP for the thermal infrared sensor (TIRS) instrument on NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM). The instrument requires three 640×512 QWIP arrays covering the 10.5 to 12.3-μm spectral band.…”

“…4 Thus, we focus on regular narrow band VLW QWIPs. We perform an optimization study in the 13 to 15 μm range.…”

“…4,5 The following section concerns the design approach adopted for the quantum structure. Our aim is to implement a broadband QWIP, allowing the coverage of the 11 to 15-μm spectral range with a single QW stack structure.…”