IR detectors - Heterodyne and direct

Recent developments in the area of wide-bandwidth infrared detectors, both for direct and heterodyne detection, are reviewed with emphasis on the differences and tradeoffs between photodiodes and photoconductors. In the direct-detection mode, where amplifier noise is an important consideration, the state-of-the-art detection noise equivalent power is approximated by 500 (B/10 MHz) pW. At short wavelengths (less than 1.7 micron), avalanche photodiodes offer superior performance, with a detection noise equivalent power of about 50 (B/10 MHz) pW. In heterodyne operation, near-ideal sensitivities of about 0.3 (B/10 MHz) pW have been achieved with 77K photodiodes. At 10 microns, HgCdTe photoconductors offer very good heterodyne performance at elevated temperatures: 2 (B/10 MHz) pW at 195 K and potentially 3 (B/10 MHz) pW at 250 K.