Circuit model for quantum-well infrared photodetectors and its comparison with experiments

Abstract

This paper presents a PSPICE model for quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIP). Bias dependence of the dark current and photocurrent is accurately described by the model with the aid of analogue behaviour modelling (ABM) technique in PSPICE. The model can be easily integrated with the readout electronics for circuit optimisation. In addition, we have also incorporated the temperature dependence of dark current into the model for analysing the effects of operating temperature on the performance. The various design parameters of the QWIP can be fed into the model as user-defined inputs to simulate the detector performance. Experimental data of different QWIP structures were compared with the simulated results and their good agreement verifies the accuracy of the PSPICE model.