Photoconductive gain mechanism of quantum-well intersubband infrared detectors

Liu, H. C.

doi:10.1063/1.107286

Cited by 197 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This has resulted in the proposal of several theoretical models [5][6][7][8] to express primary QWIP characteristics such as responsivity, detectivity, photoconductive gain and photocurrent. However, the QWIP formulas derived from these different models vary due to the diversity in definitions and basic assumptions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsivity of quantum well infrared photodetectors at terahertz detection wavelengths

Gadir

Harrison

Soref

2002

Journal of Applied Physics

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responsivity of quantum well infrared photodetectors at terahertz detection wavelengths

Gadir

Harrison

Soref

2002

Journal of Applied Physics

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“…However, the induced charge-density fluctuations in the QWs will be compensated by the concomitant change of the time-dependent tunneling current compared to its initial steady-state value and the system will eventually reach a final steady state with a different static tunneling current after a characteristic time (in the range of 1 s) similar to the charging/discharging time of a capacitive system in classical electrodynamics. 1 A. Time-dependent device temperature 7" e (f) [4][5][6] The capture process of carriers flowing above the barriers 10 has not been neglected in Eq. (4) although it has not been explicitly shown.…”

Section: Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal hysteresis loop, dynamical breakdown, and emission-current spike in quantum-well photodetectors

Huang

Morath

Cardimona

et al. 2001

Journal of Applied Physics

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Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S)12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited. 14. ABSTRACT A nonabiabatic sequential-tunneling model is developed and applied to explore the common origin of the transient behavior of electrons in quantum-well photodetectors in the presence of different time-dependent external sources, including device temperature, electric field, and incident optical flux. For the time-dependent temperature, a counterclockwise hysteresis loop in the tunneling current as a function of the swept temperature is predicted and attributed to a blockade or an enhancement of the sequential tunneling of electrons between quantum wells by the space-charge-field effect when the device temperature is swept up and then down. When a time-dependent electric field is applied, a dynamical breakdown of the photodetectors is predicted, where the peak of total current linearly increases with the frequency of an ac electric field from its static value under a dc field. This is due to the presence of an additional dielectric current, which is proportional to the oscillation frequency of the ac electric field and whose peak value becomes larger than the value of the saturated tunneling-current peak in the high-frequency domain. Under the dynamical-breakdown condition, the quantum-well photodetectors behave just like a uniform dielectric medium. In the presence of a time-dependent optical flux, an emission-current spike is predicted as a result of the dominant enhancement of the escape probability of electrons from quantum wells over the loss of electron density when an applied dc electric field is small. The experimental observations of the transient behavior of electrons in quantum-well photodetectors are successfully reproduced by our numerical calculations. A nonadiabatic sequential-tunneling model is developed and applied to explore the common origin of the transient behavior of electrons in quantum-well photodetectors in the presence of different time-dependent external sources, including device temperature, electric field, and incident optical flux. For the time-dependent temperature, a counterclockwise hysteresis loop in the tunneling current as a function of the swept temperature is predicted and attributed to a blockade or an enhancement of the sequential tunneling of electrons between quantum wells by the space-charge-field effect when the device temperat...

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“…The diffusion of electrons from 3D to 2D states (and vice versa) is a particularly difficult theoretical problem 5,6 . That is why most models use adjustable parameters such as the capture time 7 or the capture probability, affecting the photoconductive gain 8 . In quantum cascade lasers, on another side, significant electric fields are applied, resulting in charge transfers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electronic transport in quantum cascade structures at equilibrium

et al. 2006

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The transport in complex multiple quantum well heterostructures is theoretically described. The model is focused on quantum cascade detectors, which represent an exciting challenge due to the complexity of the structure containing 7 or 8 quantum wells of different widths. Electronic transport can be fully described without any adjustable parameter. Diffusion from one subband to another is calculated with a standard electron-optical phonon hamiltonian, and the electronic transport results from a parallel flow of electrons using all the possible paths through the different subbands. Finally, the resistance of such a complex device is given by a simple expression, with an excellent agreement with experimental results. This relation involves the sum of transitions rates between subbands, from one period of the device to the next one. This relation appears as an Einstein relation adapted to the case of complex multiple quantum structures.

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Photoconductive gain mechanism of quantum-well intersubband infrared detectors

Cited by 197 publications

References 7 publications

Responsivity of quantum well infrared photodetectors at terahertz detection wavelengths

Responsivity of quantum well infrared photodetectors at terahertz detection wavelengths

Thermal hysteresis loop, dynamical breakdown, and emission-current spike in quantum-well photodetectors

Electronic transport in quantum cascade structures at equilibrium

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