AlGaN based detectors for Solar Blind Focal Plane Arrays

The overall objective of the proposed project is to develop the feasibility of large format solar-blind focal plane arrays (FPAs) based on wide band-gap III-Nitride based optoelectronic sensor elements hybridized to silicon based read-out integrated circuits (ROICs). MP Technologies and the proposed subcontractor (the Center for Quantum Devices at Northwestern University) have already demonstrated themselves in the areas of III-Nitride optoelectronic devices and III-V semiconductor based focal plane arrays. The goal of Phase I is to take our existing AlGaN based detector capabilities and pursue necessary improvements in order to target a mega-pixel FPA compatible pixel size of between 5 to 25 micron. Extensive evaluation of commercially available read-out integrated circuits (ROICs) for use with III-Nitride solar-blind imaging will also be performed in order to develop a detector designs compatible with the ROIC specifications. This will then be used to predict the performance of any large-format camera that will be demonstrated in Phase II.