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The enhanced optical coupling in a quantum well infrared photodetector based on a resonant mode of an air–dielectric–metal waveguide

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Abstract

The hybrid structure consisting of periodic gold stripes and an overlaying gold film is proposed to enhance the optical coupling of a quantum well infrared photodetector. An air–dielectric–metal waveguide is formed when the hybrid structure is integrated on the top of the quantum well detector with the substrate being removed. Finite difference time-domain method is used to numerically obtain the reflection spectrum and the field distribution of the waveguide. The results show that a strong electric field component is induced in parallel to the growth direction of quantum well when the waveguide resonant mode occurs at the detective wavelength of the quantum well infrared photodetector. The relationship between the structural parameters and the resonant wavelength is derived by using the effective refractive index method of the air–dielectric–metal waveguide. A high coupling efficiency can be obtained and the performance of the QWIP can be greatly improved.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support provided by the State Key Program for Basic Research of China (2013CB632705, 2011CB922004), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10990104, 11334008, and 61290301), the Fund of Shanghai Science and Technology Foundation (13JC1408800).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Laboratory for Infrared Physics, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 500 Yu Tian Road, Shanghai, 200083, China

    Jia-yi Ding, Xiao-shuang Chen, Qian Li, Wei-wei Tang, Chang-long Liu, Hong-lou Zhen, You-liang Jing, Han Wang & Wei Lu

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  1. Jia-yi Ding
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  2. Xiao-shuang Chen
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  3. Qian Li
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  4. Wei-wei Tang
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  5. Chang-long Liu
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  6. Hong-lou Zhen
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  7. You-liang Jing
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  8. Han Wang
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  9. Wei Lu
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Correspondence to Xiao-shuang Chen.

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Ding, Jy., Chen, Xs., Li, Q. et al. The enhanced optical coupling in a quantum well infrared photodetector based on a resonant mode of an air–dielectric–metal waveguide. Opt Quant Electron 47, 2347–2357 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-014-0115-9

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