Engineering topics

Reininger, Peter

Publications and source records attributed to Reininger, Peter.

5 records

DOE OSTI2015

InAs/AlAsSb based quantum cascade detector

In this letter, we introduce the InAs/AlAsSb material system for quantum cascade detectors (QCDs). InAs/AlAsSb can be grown lattice matched to InAs and exhibits a conduction band offset of approximately 2.1 eV, enabling the design of very short wavelength quantum cascade detectors. Another benefit using this material system is the low effective mass of the well material that improves the total absorption of the detector and decreases the intersubband scattering rates, which increases the device resistance and thus enhances the noise behavior. We have designed, grown, and measured a QCD that detects at a wavelength of λ = 4.84 μm and shows a peak specific detectivity of approximately 2.7 × 10{sup 7 }Jones at T = 300 K.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2015

Monolithically integrated mid-infrared sensor using narrow mode operation and temperature feedback

A method to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of a monolithically integrated mid-infrared sensor using a distributed feedback laser (DFB) is presented in this paper. The sensor is based on a quantum cascade laser/detector system built from the same epitaxial structure and with the same fabrication approach. The devices are connected via a dielectric-loaded surface plasmon polariton waveguide with a twofold function: it provides high light coupling efficiency and a strong interaction of the light with the environment (e.g., a surrounding fluid). The weakly coupled DFB quantum cascade laser emits narrow mode light with a FWHM of 2 cm{sup −1} at 1586 cm{sup −1}. The room temperature laser threshold current density is 3 kA∕cm{sup 2} and a pulsed output power of around 200 mW was measured. With the superior laser noise performance, due to narrow mode emission and the compensation of thermal fluctuations, the lower limit of detection was expanded by one order of magnitude to the 10 ppm range.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2014

Plasmonic lens enhanced mid-infrared quantum cascade detector

We demonstrate monolithic integrated quantum cascade detectors enhanced by plasmonic lenses. Surface normal incident mid-infrared radiation is coupled to surface plasmon polaritons guided to and detected by the active region of the detector. The lens extends the optical effective active area of the device up to a 5 times larger area than for standard mesa detectors or pixel devices while the electrical active region stays the same. The extended optical area increases the absorption efficiency of the presented device as well as the room temperature performance while it offers a flexible platform for various detector geometries. A photocurrent response increase at room temperature up to a factor of 6 was observed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Diagonal-transition quantum cascade detector

We demonstrate the concept of diagonal transitions for quantum cascade detectors (QCD). Different to standard, vertical QCDs, here the active transition takes place between two energy levels in adjacent wells. Such a scheme has versatile advantages. Diagonal transitions generally yield a higher extraction efficiency and a higher resistance than vertical transitions. This leads to an improved overall performance, although the absorption strength of the active transition is smaller. Since the extraction is not based on resonant tunneling, the design is more robust, with respect to deviations from the nominal structure. In a first approach, a peak responsivity of 16.9 mA/W could be achieved, which is an improvement to the highest shown responsivity of a QCD for a wavelength of 8 μm at room-temperature by almost an order of magnitude.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2013

Photonic crystal slab quantum cascade detector

In this Letter, we demonstrate the design, fabrication, and characterization of a photonic crystal slab quantum cascade detector (PCS-QCD). By employing a specifically designed resonant cavity, the performance of the photodetector is improved in three distinct ways. The PCS makes the QCD sensitive to surface normal incident light. It resonantly enhances the photon lifetime inside the active zone, thus increasing the photocurrent significantly. And, the construction form of the device inherently decreases the noise. Finally, we compare the characteristics of the PCS-QCD to a PCS - quantum well infrared photodetector and outline the advantages for certain fields of applications.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗