Thermo-electrically (TE) cooled, long wave infrared detectors, with superior performance for remote chemical sensing of different compounds, are needed for the monitoring of weapons of mass destruction. Current technology suffers from device degradation and large leakage currents, which render them unusable for the most part. This project will incorporate advanced, liquid phase epitaxy growth to fabricate high quality HgCdTe detectors with a novel structure, i.e., where the junction is in the large band-gap region, providing more robustness. The leakage current also will be reduced, along with detector noise, while maintaining the superior characteristics of the HgCdTe device. In Phase I, detectors with a cut-off wavelength of 10 µm, operating at TE-cooled temperatures, were produced. These detectors showed very good performance characteristics with typical detectivity of 2-4x108 Jones. Phase II will gradually extend the cut-off wavelength of the devices beyond 10 µm, while improving the photo-response. Four packaged TE-cooled detectors will be sent to DOE, one every six months, during Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: Low cost, high performance, TE-cooled detector systems should have application to the remote sensing of dangerous chemicals, as well as to anti-terrorist efforts and security applications.
