Modelling of dark current in AlGaAs/GaAs QWIPs

In this paper, the dark current in Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors (QWIP) operating at the thermionic regime is computed by a semiclassical model based on the Ehrenfest Theorem. The model is independent of adjusting or empirical parameters. The corresponding wave functions are calculated considering a nonparabolic approximation and temperature-dependent energy gap. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data obtained from AlGaAs/GaAs QWIP with symmetric rectangular wells and were found to be in a good agreement.