Diamond-Like Antireflective Coatings for Far Infrared Photoconductors

摘要

Diamond-like films have been used as antireflective coatings on far infrared semiconductor photoconductors. An average increase in the detector responsivity of 28% was realized for optimally coated gallium-doped germanium photoconductors compared to uncoated devices. The photoconductors were operated at 3 K without cavity in a narrow wavelength range from 98.45 to 99.35 mu m. The films survived repeated thermal cycling between room temperature and 2.5 K. Any increase in dark current caused by the coating is less than or equal to 10 sup -14 A, a value which is given by instrumentation. The protective qualities of the film are explored. The potential applications of diamond-like coated photoconductors in large, unstressed and stressed arrays which will be used in future, satellite-born astrophysics missions will be discussed. 9 refs., 5 figs. (ERA citation 12:041850)