Unclassified, distribution unlimited MULTICOLOR QUANTUM WELL INFRARED PHOTODETECTORS

Multicolor infrared (IR) detectors are very important to advanced IR sensor systems. An IR detector with multicolor capability can offer a better target discrimination, tracking, and identification, as well as temperature determination. Multicolor IR sensors are also very useful in industry for gas leakage detection, chemical analysis, and for environmental sensing and control. As the IR technology continues to advance, there is a growing demand of multicolor IR detectors for advanced IR sensor systems. Quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) is one of the competing technologies that shows very promising potential in infrared detection and imaging. One major advantage of QWIPs is its multicolor detection capability and voltage tunability. Several approaches of achieving multicolor detection, detailed device structures, and performance of multicolor QWIPs will be presented. The multicolor voltage tunability, simultaneous detection capability, nd the Stark Shift effect for fine tuning of the peak etection wavelength will be discussed.