Photoconductive Detectors Employing An Optically Induced Nonlinear Resistance

A. B. Dean; C. T. Elliott; A. M. White

doi:10.1117/12.7973548

1 August 1985 Photoconductive Detectors Employing An Optically Induced Nonlinear Resistance

A. B. Dean, C. T. Elliott, A. M. White

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 24, Issue 4, 244668 (August 1985). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7973548

Abstract

A new mode of operation of photoconductive detectors in which a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic is induced by illumination is described. Outputs at harmonic frequencies can be obtained from devices biased with alternating current or at the modulation frequency of a modulated, alternating bias. Several different ways to achieve the nonlinearity are described, one of which uses conventional detector structures. The advantages of this mode of operation are that the large bias-voltage pedestal, normally associated with long-wavelength photoconductive detectors, can be separated from the photo-signal by simple electrical filters and that the problem of flicker noise, in both the detector and the following electronics, is considerably reduced. Photoconductive devices thus become competitive with photodiodes, which may be more difficult to produce with ideal performance and stable characteristics, in detect-ing radiation with very low modulation frequencies. Possible applications for the device may be in slow, parallel-scanned linear arrays; in "staring" arrays; in ultrasensitive detectors employing long integration times; and in position-sensitive, point-source detectors.

Citation Download Citation

A. B. Dean, C. T. Elliott, and A. M. White "Photoconductive Detectors Employing An Optically Induced Nonlinear Resistance," Optical Engineering 24(4), 244668 (1 August 1985). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7973548

Published: 1 August 1985

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available