A 5 mm x 5 mm mid-wavelength infrared HgCdTe photodiode array with negative luminescence efficiency ≡95%

The negative luminescence (NL) efficiency of a 5 mm X 5 mm array (100% effective fill factor) of HgCdTe photodiodes (lambda(co) = 4.8 mum at 295 K) has been measured as a function of temperature. The internal NL efficiency of approximate to95% at lambda = 4 mum is nearly independent of temperature in the 240-300 K range and, at 300 K, corresponds to an apparent temperature reduction of 60 K. This performance is obtained at a reverse-bias saturation-current density of only 0.11 A/cm(2) at 296 K. With large area, high efficiency, and low saturation-current density, our results demonstrate a level of NL device performance at which such applications as cold shields for large-format focal plane arrays (FPAs) and multipoint nonuniformity correctors appear practical.