Near-unity quantum efficiency of AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well infrared detectors using a waveguide with a doubly periodic grating coupler

Quantum well infrared detectors based on a waveguide with a doubly periodic grating coupler are shown to provide quantum efficiencies of nearly unity with respect to unpolarized polarization. This is a factor of six larger than for a conventional 45° polished edge detector with the same quantum well characteristics. As a further advantage the detector response becomes nearly insensitive to the polarization direction of the incident radiation. Detectors have been fabricated and tested. Measurements lead to a maximum quantum efficiency of 92% with respect to unpolarized radiation, with a response linewidth =0.8 μm, thus confirming theory.