Comparative research on reflection-mode GaAs photocathode with graded AlxGa1−xAs buffer layer

The graded Al compositional AlxGa1−xAs buffer layer can not only form continuous internal electric field from buffer layer to active layer but also optimize the interface properties by decreasing the misfit dislocations and stacking faults arising from lattice mismatch. By measuring the spectral response current (SRC) for two reflection-mode (r-mode) designed samples of graded and stationary Al compositional structure, we can find the special phenomenon that the graded structure had quite influence at the middle wavelength band from 550 nm to 850 nm, but not the short wavelength band from 400 nm to 550 nm, though the buffer layer can only absorb photon energy at the short wavelength band. Through the comparative research for designed samples through SPV before Cs–O activation and SRC after Cs–O activation, the graded structure can well optimize the key parameters such as LD, Ln, Sv and P. For the photon absorption lengths are relative little at the short wavelength band and relative long at the middle wavelength band, so the optimizations of key parameters have little influence on photo-excited electrons at the short wavelength band which are mainly excited from the region in active layer near surface barriers. The optimizations of key parameter, mainly the back interface recombination velocity (Sv), can have quite impact on photo-excited electrons at the middle short wavelength band which are mainly excited from the internal active layer near the back interface. This comparative research can help to well study the photo-emission theory and structure design on graded Al compositional design for r-mode GaAs photocathodes in the future research.