Normal-incidence, high-temperature, mid-infrared, InAs-GaAs vertical quantum-dot infrared photodetector

The growth, fabrication, and characterization of a normal-incidence, high-temperature, mid-wavelength infrared, InAs-GaAs vertical quantum-dot infrared photodetector with a single Al/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As current-blocking barrier are described and discussed in detail. A specific detectivity /spl ap/3/spl times/10/sup 9/ cmHz/sup 1/2//W is measured for a detector temperature of 100 K at a bias of 0.2 V. Detector characteristics are measured for temperatures as high as 150 K. The superior low bias performance of the vertical quantum-dot infrared photodetector ensures its compatibility with commercially available silicon read-out circuits necessary for the fabrication of a focal plane array.