Induim Arsenide Antimonide Very Long Wavelength Photodiodes for Near Room Temperature Operation

70278 Commercially available photodetectors for the 8-12 micron wavelength range, needed for the monitoring of chemical weapons, are susceptible to high degrees of noise, have low operating bandwidth, and require cryogenic cooling. This project will develop a low noise, high bandwidth long wavelength infrared photodetector that operates at or near room temperature. It will utilize Indium Arsenide Antimonide, a compound semiconductor alloy with an energy bandgap suitable for long wavelength infrared applications. Phase I will employ a materials growth and optimization study, and the results will then be applied to the fabrication and characterization of a prototype photodetector device. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Without the need for cryogenic cooling, smaller, cheaper, more portable long wavelength IR imaging systems could be engineered. These systems could be utilized for astronomy, agricultural and industrial monitoring, night-vision, and chemical sensing.