Overview of Infrared Detectors: Status and Trends

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Overview of Infrared DetectorsStatus and Trends

• Zhi-Jun Xin
• Instrumentation Division
• CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory

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• Outline
• Present Status of Infrared Detectors
• 1.1 IR Detector Classification and
  Characteristics
• 1.2 Present Status
• IR Detector Technology and ROIC Hybridization
• What are IR Detectors Trends?

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1. Present Status of Infrared Detectors
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1.1 IR Detector Classification and Characteristics
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• In category 1 2, intrinsic and extrinsic
  semiconductor detectors have reached quantum
  noise limited performance. The present work is on
  improving yield, readout, reliability, pixel
  number and size.
• In category 3, there is still some room for
  improving the performance of uncooled bolometers,
  but there is little for other bolometers.
• In category 4, this is most active field now.
  Attention shall be paid particularly on
  superconducting detectors, including SIS and SIN
  Junctions, schottky mixer and bolometers,
  combined with novel materials and techniques for
  example MEMS, quantum dots, micro-oscillators
  etc.
• High sensitive detectors have to be cooled down
  to mK, especially for longer wavelength.

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• 1.2 Present Status
• The Best InGaAs, InSb, HgCdTe, GaAs/AlGaAl QWs,
  Si and Ge BIB
• 2048x2048 pixels (GaAs/AlGaAl QWs 4, 2048X2048
  MCT)
• Pixel Pitch 18x18um2 (HgCdTe, GaAs/AlGaAl QWs)
• 4 colour (GaAs/AlGaAl QWs)
• 120Hz Frame rate (1M pixels, 16 outputs, up to
  10KHz _at_ 512X8)

4th Gen??? Multicolor, Super-ROIC
3rd Gen, Uncooled FPAROIC
2nd Gen, FPAROIC
1st Gen, Scan to image
Four-colour FPA
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2. IR Detector Technology and ROIC Hybridization
Epi-grown on Si
CCD/CMOS
ROICSensor Hybridize
MEMS bolometers
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3. What Are IR Detectors Trends?

• Improved performance (detectivity, productivity,
  operability, filling factor etc)
• Highly condensed smaller pixels, large array
• Wider spectral range, Multi-colour
• Si-compatible materials and technology

• Faster time response
• Fast read-out IC
• Active pixels
• Higher operating temperature

Generally following Moores law, but IR detectors
leg about a decade behind dynamic RAM development.
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Thank You!