Photodiode design study. Final report, May--December 1977
The purpose of this work was to apply the analytical method developed for single junction and multijunction solar cells, Contract No. F33615-76-C-1283, to photodiodes and avalanche photodiodes. It was anticipated that this analytical method will advance the state-of-the-art because of the following: (1) the analysis considers the total photodetector multilayer structure rather than just the depleted region; (2) a model of the complete band structure is analyzed; (3) application of the integral form of the continuity equation is used; (4) structures that reduce dark current and/or increase the ratio of photocurrent to dark current are obtained; and (5) structures that increase spectral response in the depleted region and reduce response in other regions of the diode are obtained. The integral form of the continuity equation developed for solar cells is the steady-state or time-independent form. The contract specified that the time-independent equation would only be employed to determine applicability to photodetectors. The GaAsSb photodiode under development at Rockwell International, Thousand Oaks, California was used to determine the applicability to photodetectors. The diode structure is composed of four layers grown on a substrate. The analysis presents calculations of spectral response. This parameter is used in this study to optimize the structure.
- Research Organization:
- Research Triangle Inst., Durham, NC (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6493916
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-055794
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
42 ENGINEERING
420800 -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
BAND THEORY
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OPTIMIZATION
PHOTODIODES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
SPECTRAL RESPONSE