Normal-Incidence Inas/In0.15ga0.85as Quantum Dots-In-A-Well Detector Operating In The Long-Wave Infrared Atmospheric Window (8-12 Mu M)

Normal incidence InAs/In0.15Ga0.85As dots-in-a-well (DWELL) detectors are reported in which the peak operating wavelength was tailored from 7.2 to 11 mum using heterostructure engineering of the DWELL structure. Using an optimized design, a detector with a spectral response spanning the long-wave infrared atmospheric window (8-12 mum) is obtained. Spectral response peaks were observed at lambda(p)=10.3 mum and 11.3 mum under positive and negative bias, respectively. These peaks are attributed to bound-to-bound transitions from the InAs quantum dot to the InGaAs well. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.