Irradiation Effects on the Performance of III-V Based nBn Infrared Detectors

Abstract

Progress towards understanding the effects of irradiation on the performance of III-V-based nBn and other barrier-architecture infrared (IR) detectors over the last decade is reviewed and the mechanisms underlying the observed performance degradation are discussed. Detector performance degradation was quantified by observing changes in three performance parameters: 1. lateral optical collection length, 2. quantum efficiency, and 3. dark-current density. Examining the theoretical equation for quantum efficiency damage factor suggested that increasing the minority-carrier mobility would enhance the radiation tolerance. Measurements of the radiation tolerance of a new nBn-related detector, the p-insert, where both holes and higher mobility electrons are photo-generated minority carriers, align with that prediction.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1093146

Entities

People

  • C. P. Morath
  • Diana Maestas
  • Elizabeth H. Steenbergen
  • G. D. Jenkins

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Band Structures
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Detectors
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electrons
  • Energy Bands
  • Engineering
  • Fermi Levels
  • Infrared Detectors
  • Materials
  • Quantum Efficiency
  • Radiation
  • Radiation Effects
  • Semiconductor Devices
  • Semiconductors
  • Valence Bands

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Semiconductor Device Technology

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Quantum Computing