Future Trends in Microelectronics

3.6

Reconfigurable Infrared Photodetector Based on Asymmetrically Doped Double Quantum Wells for Multicolor and Remote Temperature Sensing

X. Zhang, V. Mitin, G. Thomain, T. Yore, Y. Li, J. K. Choi, K. Sablon and A. Sergeev

Department of Electrical Engineering, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA

Memory R&D Division, SK Hynix, Icheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 467-701, South Korea

U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD, 20783, USA

1 Introduction

Multicolor IR detectors are providing new solutions in physical, chemical, and biological sensing and imaging.^{1 2} Multispectral sensing makes it possible to increase detection sensitivity, to improve object identification and discrimination capabilities, and to measure the absolute temperature of the object regardless of its emissivity and geometry.^3–5 Numerous practical applications of such detectors include defense and commercial technologies, such as night vision, low visibility navigation, monitoring of industrial high-temperature processes, noncontact temperature imaging, target detection and tracking, and remote earth observations.

Quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) are a well-established technology with numerous possibilities to control electron levels and to manage photoelectron processes.^{6 7} In recent years, significant efforts were devoted to development of multispectral QWIPs, particularly for temperature sensing. Initial studies were focused on multistack packaging of single-frequency QWIPs with multiple electrical ...