Engineering Commons^™

Noise And Gain Characterization Of Interband Cascade Infrared Photodetectors, Eli A. Garduño

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Infrared (IR) detectors are an enabling technology for a broad and growing list of applications including gas detection, night vision, and space-based missile warning. There are ongoing efforts in IR detector research to explore the potential of new material systems and energy band structures in addition to continuously improving their sensitivity through increasing their quantum efficiency and lowering their dark current and noise. This dissertation examines an emerging class of IR detectors known as Interband Cascade Infrared Photodetectors (ICIPs).

ICIPs contain multiple regions to facilitate the collection of photogenerated electrons and to limit unwanted dark current. Theory regarding their performance …

Silicon Based Uncooled Microbolometer, Asahel Banobre

Dissertations

During the last decade, uncooled microbolometer infrared detectors have attracted the attention of military and civilian infrared detection and imaging industry due to their significant advantages. In actuality, infrared imaging systems play a critical role in sectors such as thermography (predictive maintenance and building inspection), commercial and civilian applications (vision automotive, surveillance, navigation and fire-fighting), and defense industry (thermal weapon sight, soldier vision and vehicle vision enhancer). Compared with the cryogenically cooled infrared photon detectors, uncooled infrared imaging technology offers advantages such as operation at room temperature, light weight and size, reduced power consumption, easy integration with read-out electronics and …

Plasmonic Grating Geometrics And Wavelength-Dependent Focus Depth In Infrared Detectors, Patrick R. Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

The objective for this research is to determine a relationship between plasmonic grating geometries and the wavelength-dependent focus depth. This research is focused on enhancing the signal collected by infrared detectors by using a metal grating as a planar lens to focus light in the detecting region of the substrate. This can be used to maintain a thinner absorbing region and possibly to create multi-color imaging in a single pixel. Simulations demonstrate that the plasmonic lens is capable of creating a wavelength dependent focus spot.

Development And Simulation Of Germanium P-I-N Infrared Detectors, Caitlin Rouse Philippi

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Important factors for infrared photodetectors are that they are high-performing, low-cost devices. The performance can be characterized through the quantum efficiency, speed and device noise. Germanium (Ge) on silicon (Si) offers a comparable alternative to conventional groups III-V infrared detector materials such as InGaAs, InSb and HgCdTe in order to develop near-infrared (NIR) photodetector devices that operate with a high responsivity and a relatively low dark current without being cooled. As a Group IV material, Ge is compatible with Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing which allows for a high-quality, high-throughput device for minimum cost. As a result of a thermally induced …