AlGaP/GaP Heterostructure Ultraviolet Detector

AstroPower is developing a highly sensitive UV detector based on epitaxial AlGaP/GaP heterostructures, a promising new material system for ultraviolet detectors. Detecting ultraviolet light is important to spectrophotometry, astronomy, high-energy physics, medicine, UV curing, photoresist exposure, and chemical processes. The large bandgap and crystalline quality of gallium phosphide will provide superior performance in high temperature, high radiation environments such as in earth orbit and article accelerators. Leakage currents lower than 10 to the -16 A/cm2 will result in an increase in detector sensitivity of up to three times. Advanced device design will increase ultraviolet sensitivity and decrease response to longer wavelength light. Continued development and optimization of this device will lead to the production of high performance cost-effective gallium phosphide UV detectors.