Normal-incidence far-infrared detectivity of InAs/GaAs QDIPs doped in dots and barriers

We report some comparative results on the normal-incidence device characteristics accomplished with a couple of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum-dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) doped in InAs QDs and GaAs barriers. The peak values of responsivity and detectivity for the barrier-doped device are 650 mA/W and 3.2 × 108 cm Hz1/2/W (18 K) at λp ≅ 5 μm, respectively, which are approximately two and ten times higher than those for the QD-doped one. In addition, while there is no spectral response over 6 μm in the QD-doped structure, a strong photoresponse is extended up to around 10 μm in the barrier-doped one. Although the direct doping in InAs QDs is effective for blocking the dark current, the doping in GaAs barriers has better device performance of QDIP.