Quantum 1/f noise theory and experiment in QWIPs

The dark current of Quantum Well Inter-subband Photodetectors is known to be affected by quantum 1/f noise. This limits the detectivity. This paper compares various experimental 1/f noise measurements in QWIPs with the prediction of the conventional quantum 1/f noise expression [1-2] for GaN/AlGaN QWIPs. The elementary process causing the dark current is the transfer of an electron out of one well. This happens under the influence of the applied electric field, and has in general both thermally activated and tunneling components. The larger the applied electric field, the larger is the squared velocity change of the carriers, and the larger is the obtained conventional quantum 1/f effect. The detectivity of the devices is calculated on this basis. The results are compared with measurements of 1/f noise in QWIPs by C. Jelen, and 3 others, and the agreement is good.