Plasmonic-Enhanced Type II Superlattice (T2SL) for High-Performance, High-Temperature LWIR/VLWIR Imaging

We propose to develop and demonstrate high-operating-temperature (HOT) LWIR and VLWIR focal plane arrays (FPAs) based on a plasmonically enhanced Type-II superlattice (T2SL) detector architecture. By integrating a highly doped n++ InAsSb “plasmonic” layer and an optimized grating, our ultra-thin (~0.2 µm) SLS absorber can achieve strong optical absorption without the performance drawbacks of thick conventional T2SLs. This design offers significantly lower dark current, enabling operation at elevated temperatures and reducing bulky cryocooling requirements. During Phase I, we validated the core plasmonic concept at 10.5 µm cutoff, demonstrating both feasibility and high quantum efficiency (QE) potential. In Phase II, we will refine the detector structure, optimize material growth (MBE), and fabricate a 640 × 512 FPA in collaboration with Attollo Engineering, who will provide the advanced DROIC with in-pixel digitization. Our integrated supply chain—spanning Amethyst Research (prime), the University of Oklahoma, Lancaster/IntelliEPI for epitaxial wafers, and Attollo for ROIC hybridization—ensures a complete pathway from wafer growth to camera-level performance validation. This effort will yield the first HOT LWIR/VLWIR FPA for NASA, DoD, and commercial markets, delivering high-sensitivity IR imaging with simplified thermal management and versatile applicability from Earth observation and space exploration to environmental monitoring and defense systems.