Infrared Detectors and Emitters: Materials and Devices

Abstract

Infrared Detectors and Emitters: Materials and Devices provides an up-to-date view of the various detector/emitter materials systems currently in use or being actively researched. After an introduction to the history of IR detectors and emitters and the assessment methods used in both materials selection and device characterization, a review of detectors and lasers made in IV-VI materials is provided. Metal silicide Schottky IR detectors are then discussed before the emphasis switches to thermal detectors and medium wavelength IR (MWIR) detectors and emitters based on bulk and epitaxial InSb. The ternary system, InAsSb, is then discussed before the current situation in thallium-based III-V compounds, both ternary and quaternary, for IR detectors and emitters for the LW region is summarized. The dominant IR material, particularly in the LWIR region, is still mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) and chapters 10-12 focus on this system and the wide array of detectors and emitters. The final three chapters are devoted to an examination of the challenges to the dominant position of MCT in the LWIR field. The book is aimed at newcomers to the field as well as those already working in the IR industry. The former will find the book readable both as an introductory text and as a useful guide to the literature, while those in industry will find it a valuable overview of the entire field.