InAs/InAsSb strain balanced superlattices for optical detectors: Material properties and energy band simulations

InAsSb/InAs type II strain balanced superlattices lattice matched to GaSb have recently been proposed as an alternative to InAs/(In)GaSb short period superlattices for mid- to long infrared photodetectors. Photoluminescence data at 4 K of OMVPE grown InAsSb (multi-) quantum wells in an InAs matrix on InAs and GaSb substrates is presented for Sb compositions between 4% and 27%. The measured transition energies are simulated with a self-consistent Poisson and Schroedinger equation solver that includes strain and band-offsets. The fitted parameters are then used to predict the type II transition energies of InAsSb/InAs strain balanced superlattice absorber stacks at 77 K for different compositions and periods. The optical matrix element was calculated and compared with InAs/(In)GaSb superlattices. The InAsSb/InAs structures can be designed with higher or equal matrix elements for longer periods. Finally, the initial optical response data of an unoptimized strain balanced InAs0.79Sb0.21/InAs detector with a 40 nm period are shown. Its cutoff wavelength is 0.15 eV (8.5 μm), in good agreement with the predicted type II transition energy of 0.17 eV.