Asymmetry in the dark current low frequency noise behavior of quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs)

In this paper we present experimental results demonstrating the significant effect that the type of intersubband transition has on the balance between the two dark current components in quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs). This balance is manifested by examining the commonly observed asymmetry between dark currents under forward and reverse bias voltages in the temperature range 5 K to 80 K. The experimental results indicate a clear relationship between the excessive low-frequency noise asymmetry and the tunneling component of the dark current. One cause of this behavior could be the scattering from unequal potential barriers.