Abstract-Terahertz quantum well photodetectors with improved designs by exploiting many-body effects

Simon Ferré, Seyed Ghasem Razavipour, and Dayan Ban
http://apl.aip.org/resource/1/applab/v103/i8/p081105_s1?isAuthorized=no
A systematic study on many-body effects on Terahertz Quantum Well Photodetectors (THZ QWPs) is reported. Peak absorption frequency differs by more than 20% when taking many-body effects into account. The phenomenon is shown to be critical in designs with a small barrier height and a high doping density. In order to exploit them and minimize their adverse impacts, a doping profile symmetrically split in the barrier layers, resembling a double-barrier QWP, is proposed. Simulation results show the design reduces dark current by one order of magnitude compared against conventional designs with a uniform doping profile in the quantum well.