Effect of dislocations on dark current in LWIR HgCdTe photodiodes

Candice M. Bacon, Craig W. McMurtry, Judith L. Pipher, Amanda Mainzer, William Forrest

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In recent years, Teledyne Imaging Sensors has begun development of Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) HgCdTe Detector Arrays for low background astronomical applications, which have a high percentage of low dark current pixels but a substantial high dark current tail. Characterization of high dark current pixels in these devices has produced I-V curves with unusual behaviors. The typical theories of diffusion current, tunneling current, and even surface current have been unable to accurately model the observed I-V curves. By modeling dislocations in and near the p-n junction as trapping sites and those near the surface as leakage channels, the behavior of these unusual I-V curves is successfully modeled, pointing to the need to reduce the number of these dislocations in order to produce LWIR HgCdTe photodiodes exhibiting very low dark current with sufficient well depth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationHigh Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
EventHigh Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IV - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Jun 27 2010Jun 30 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7742
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceHigh Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy IV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period6/27/106/30/10

Keywords

  • Dark Current
  • Dislocation
  • HgCdTe
  • Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) Detector
  • Surface Current
  • Tunneling Current

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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