Spectrum Tunable Quantum Dot-In-A-Well Infrared Detector Arrays for Thermal Imaging

The Center for High Technology Materials at the University of New Mexico has been investigating quantum dot and quantum well detectors for thermal infrared imaging applications. Recent advances in manufacturing have led to the development of a hybrid quantum dot-in-a-well configuration, allowing many of the benefits of each type of detector in addition to multiple transition energies. These transition energies (and thus wavelengths of detection) are also bias tunable providing the capability of spectrum tunability. These devices have been manufactured in 300 x 256 pixel arrays and can be adjusted to obtain a maximum responsivity to wavelengths ranging from 3 μm to nearly 30 μm by applying an external bias voltage. This detector has the capability of expanding the field of hyperspectral imaging by allowing real-time tunability over a very wide spectrum without switchable filters. This paper reports on the device specifications, spectral response measurements, noise characterization and reduction techniques, and discusses suitable applications in the field of thermal surveillance. It also reports on the most recent advances in manufacturing that have led to dramatic increases in quantum efficiency and joint work with other fabrication facilities that have led to the manufacture of mega-pixel (1200 x 1024) arrays. 2008 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, 16-19 Sep, Maui, HI.. The original document contains color images.