Thin-absorber AlInAsSb APDs for low-noise and low-voltage e-SWIR photodetection

Physical Sciences Inc., Prof. Seth Bank at the University of Texas Austin, and Prof. Joe Campbell of the University of Virginia are developing thin-absorber avalanche photodiodes based on digital alloys of AlInAsSb for high-performance photodetection between 2.0 – 2.5 ?m. The AlInAsSb quaternary alloy system allows for compositional grading throughout the device structure, enabling novel photodiode architectures inaccessible with other III-V alloy systems. Our team will mature the prototype detectors grown in Phase I, fabricate, and characterize both single pixels and pixel arrays of AlInAsSb avalanche photodiodes based on a thin-absorber architecture for dark current suppression. Achievement of these objectives will enable integration with Si CMOS readout circuitry for low power-consumption digital infrared focal plane arrays.