IR Detectors
LASER COMPONENTS Detector Group
The LASER COMPONENTS Detector Group in Arizona, has been manufacturing (extended) InGaAs PIN photodiodes since 2013, pyroelectric DLaTGS and LiTaO3 detectors since 2014, PbS and PbSe detectors were released onto the market in 2015.
Product Portfolio
different types of detectors
The Detector Group has an experienced R&D team working on its product developments, both improving the IR material and introducing novel IR detectors to the market. The quantum efficiency, for example, is constantly being pushed to its technical limits.
InGaAs PIN Photodiodes
InGaAs PIN diodes not only cover the SWIR spectral range but the visible range as well: We refer to this characteristic as panchromatic. InGaAs detectors have a smaller temperature coefficient than the less-expensive PbS/PbSe detectors and are thus preferred in critical applications.
PbS and PbSe Detectors
The Detector Group took advantage of the opportunity to develop PbS and PbSe detectors at Arizona State University (ASU) and subsequently transfer the process to manufacturing. The ambitious goal during R&D and production was to take over the technological leadership. PbS and PbSe detectors are tested and proven detectors that can also be used at room temperature. These detectors offer a significant cost benefit over InGaAs PIN photodiodes, especially the large-area designs.
DLaTGS and LiTaO3 Pyroelectric Detectors
Thermal detectors are ideal for mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) applications and are useful for THz detection. Both DLaTGS and LiTaO3 materials are pyroelectric crystals used to create electrical signals from temperature changes caused by light absorption. Particularly, for scientific applications such as FTIR, DLaTGS offers performance greater than 2 x 108 @ 1 kHz due to its superior pyroelectric effect. On the other hand, LiTaO3 performs well in industrial markets because of stable performance over hot and cold temperatures, such as in flame and gas detection. Additionally, it is important to consider the detectivity (D*) of each detector. A higher D* represents a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) which benefits any use case.
Product Developments
Beyond Borders
IR components are often developed and manufactured according to customer specifications. We are especially proud of the successful development of complex customer-specific projects: High customer demands are able to be met thanks to the successful collaboration between our various internal production facilities; an example of this collaboration is the soldered housing windows coated using LASER COMPONENTS’ state-of-the-art IBS technology.