Responsivity and thermionic current in asymmetric quantum well infrared detectors

Abstract
Responsivity and thermionic dark current are studied in asymmetric stepped GaAs/AlGaAs multiquantum well infrared detectors with a single bound state. Although attributed to different transport properties, both the photoexcited and the thermally emitted carriers exhibit asymmetric transport properties with respect to the voltage polarity. The experimental characteristics are explained by the minibands-quasi continuum energy structure above the barrier.