Active solid-state devices (e.g. – transistors – solid-state diode – Thin active physical layer which is – Low workfunction layer for electron emission
Patent
1993-01-14
1995-04-04
Hille, Rolf
Active solid-state devices (e.g., transistors, solid-state diode
Thin active physical layer which is
Low workfunction layer for electron emission
257 11, 257 15, 257 21, 257191, H01L 29161, H01L 29205
Patent
active
054040264
ABSTRACT:
A single-crystal, multi-layer device incorporating an IR absorbing layer that is compositionally different from the Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb layer which acts as the electron emitter. Many different IR absorbing layers can be envisioned for use in this embodiment, limited only by the ability to grow quality material on a chosen substrate. A non-exclusive list of possible IR absorbing layers would include GaSb, InAs and InAs/Ga.sub.w In.sub.y Al.sub.1-y-w Sb superlattices. The absorption of the IR photon excites an electron into the conduction band of the IR absorber. An externally applied electric field then transports electrons from the conduction band of the absorber into the conduction band of the Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb, from which they are ejected into vacuum. Because the band alignments of Ga.sub.x Al.sub.1-x Sb can be made the same as that of GaAs, emitting efficiencies comparable to GaAs photocathodes are obtainable. The present invention provides a photocathode that is responsive to wavelengths within the range of 0.9 .mu.m to at least 10 .mu.m.
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Cooper Gregory A.
Mariella, Jr. Raymond P.
Hille Rolf
Regents of the University of California
Sartorio Henry P.
Tran Minhloan
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