GaAs/AlGaAs MULTI-QUANTUM WELL-BASED INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAYS FOR INFRARED IMAGING APPLICATIONS

New infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) with multi-spectral coverage, high sensitivity, and lower manufacturing costs are required for many ground-based and space-based infrared imaging applications. One of the most promising FPA technologies is a GaAs/AlGaAs based Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) FPAs. In this paper we discuss the importance of focal plane array non-uniformity on the performance, demonstrations of varies infrared imaging cameras based on narrow-band QWIP FPAs, demonstration of long-wavelength/very long-wavelength dual-band QWIP imaging camera, demonstration of the first broad-band QWIP imaging camera, and a novel multi-quantum-well based infrared detection device structure for low-background and low-temperature operations.