Modeling and simulation of quantum-well infrared photodetectors

Quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) have become research focus in recent years due to its many inherent properties. However, the measurement of internal parameters is very difficult; instead, computer simulation and device modeling provide a better way to analyze quantum structure devices. In order to solve this issue, the electronics performance and the optical performance of a QWIP fabricated with GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice material are evaluated. And the characteristics of this QWIP are theoretically analyzed and studied by numerical simulation with MATLAB. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) and SPICE-compatible model are then built for front-end and back-end designers to use. Besides, QWIPs with different quantum structures are compared and theoretically analyzed by simulation. Provided with these design-automation tools, we can accelerate the device development process. In addition, the SPICE-compatible model is used in the system-level simulation of QWIP device together with the design of a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) in HSPICE.