Phonon-Assisted Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetector

A proposed quantum-well infrared photodetector (QWIP) would exploit resonant-phonon-assisted transitions to reduce dark current significantly below that of a typical previously developed QWIP operating at the same wavelength and temperature. The reduction in dark current would translate to greater sensitivity, a capability to measure the diminished infrared radiation from cooler objects, and/or a less severe requirement for cooling an infrared sensor to obtain a desired signal-to-noise ratio.