Silicon sub-bandgap photon linear detection in two-photon experiments: A photo-assisted Shockley-Read-Hall mechanism

B. Vest, E. Lucas, J. Jaeck, R. Haïdar, E. Rosencher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigate the linear response of silicon p-i-n diodes to sub-bandgap photons (1.4 μm-1.6 μm) that has been reported by many authors and left unexplored till then. The quantum efficiency of this mechanism is extremely low (typically 10-9) but has a drastic influence on silicon devices harnessing two-photon absorption. We show that this linear photonic current decreases with temperature, displaying an activation energy similar to the dark current one. We show that this behaviour is consistent with a photo-assisted Shockley-Read mechanism in which the occupancy factor of a defect state in the Si band gap is influenced by the sub-band gap photon flux.

Original languageEnglish
Article number031105
JournalApplied Physics Letters
Volume102
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

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