Introduction: A Path to an Ideal Photonic Infrared Detector

Abstract

The basic properties of infrared detectors are described and summarized, as well as different requirements that may be posed in exploitation. General figures of merit of infrared detectors are shortly described, and specific detectivity-bandwidth product is chosen as the key factor determining the detector performance. It is argued that intrinsic infrared detectors based on narrow-bandgap semiconductors satisfy the majority of the posed requirements best among the different types of infrared detector devices. Various particular mechanisms are further presented that define the detector performance, especially the prevailing generation-recombination processes (Auger, radiative and Shockley-Read) and the related noise mechanisms. The final goal is to determine which detector parameters can be optimized and in which manner to maximize the specific detectivity and to extend the performance of infrared detectors towards the ideal one.