MWIR photodetectors with ultra-thin absorbers

Mid-wave infrared Antimonide-based Type II superlattice (T2SL) nBn detectors are a promising technology for compact, high-efficiency, uncooled focal plane arrays (FPA). However, reduction in dark current is desired to improve the temperature performance amongst other factors. This may be accomplished by reducing the absorption layer thickness, but it comes at the expense of diminished external quantum efficiency. T2SL structures integrated with plasmonic nanostructures is a promising approach of increasing the absorption strength while simultaneously reducing the layer thickness. We propose to develop and commercialize room-temperature plasmonic-enhanced MWIR nBn detectors with ultra-thin T2SL absorbers embedded between a metal ground plane and sub-wavelength patch antennas. Single-pixel devices will be fabricated and characterized in Phase I. Focal plane array chips will be fabricated and packaged to a ROIC in Phase II.