Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors for Low Background Applications

High performance long-wavelength GaAs/Al(x)Ga(1-x)As quantum well infrared photodetectors for low background applications have been demonstrated. This is the first theoretical analysis of quantum well infrared photodetectors for low background applications and the detectivity D* of 6 x 10(exp 13) cm.square root of Hz/W has been achieved at T = 40 K with 2 x 10(exp 9) photons/cm2/sec background. In addition, this paper describes the demonstration of mid-wavelength/long-wavelength dualband quantum well infrared photodetectors and long-wavelength/very long-wavelength dualband quantum well infrared photodetectors in 4-26 micrometers wavelength region.