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The application of a modified Levine model to quantum-well infrared photodetectors in the low-temperature regime

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Abstract

A different approach to the calculation of the dark current of quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) based on a modified version of Levine’s method is presented. A quantum-well-dependent transmission probability is proposed and evaluated. The results show that the model accurately reproduces the experimental behavior of the photodetector dark current in the low-temperature regime. As a proof of concept, the presented approach is applied to elucidate the role of filter barriers in QWIP structures. As expected, a significant decrease in the dark current is observed, principally in the high bias regime, demonstrating that the modified Levine’s model captures relevant information about the behavior of the dark current of photovoltaic devices.

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Funding

The research was funded by Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq).

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  1. Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Av. Jovino Fernandes Sales, 1043, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Anibal Thiago Bezerra

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  1. Anibal Thiago Bezerra
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Correspondence to Anibal Thiago Bezerra.

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The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request.

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The codes used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Bezerra, A.T. The application of a modified Levine model to quantum-well infrared photodetectors in the low-temperature regime. J Comput Electron 19, 1645–1650 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10825-020-01547-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10825-020-01547-w

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