PCI-3TE-12-1 × 1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 from VIGO Photonics is a three-stage thermoelectrically cooled IR photoconductor based on the advanced HgCdTe heterostructure to ensure the best stability and performance.
The device has been improved to deliver optimum performance at 12 µm. In addition, the detector element is monolithically incorporated with hyper hemispherical GaAs microlens to enhance device performance.
Photoconductive detectors must work in optimum bias voltage and current readout mode. Low-frequency performance is decreased, thanks to 1/f noise and unnecessary interference effects are also prevented by the 3° wedged zinc selenide anti-reflection-coated (wZnSeAR) window.
Table 1. Source: VIGO Photonics
Image |
Name |
Cooling |
Immersion |
Optimal wavelength
λopt, µm |
Detectivity D*(λopt),
cm·Hz1/2/W |
Package |
Time
constant
τ, ns |
Datasheet |
 |
PCI-3TE-12-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
12.0 |
≥9.0x108 |
TO8 |
≤5 |
 |
HgCdTe (MCT) Photoconductive Detectors
Photoconductive detectors rely on the photoconductive effect. Infrared radiation produces charge carriers in the semiconductor active region, thus reducing its resistance. By applying a continuous voltage bias, the resistance change is detected as a current change.
The devices are defined by near-linear current-voltage properties. Within the photoconductors, the electric field is constant across the device.
Table 2. Source: VIGO Photonics
Image |
Name |
Cooling |
Immersion |
Optimal wavelength
λopt, µm |
Detectivity D*(λopt),
cm·Hz1/2/W |
Package |
Time
constant
τ, ns |
Datasheet |
 |
PC-5 |
Uncooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥1.0x109 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤5000 |
 |
 |
PC-6 |
Uncooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥3.0x108 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤500 |
 |
 |
PC-9 |
Uncooled |
No |
9.0 |
≥2.0x107 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PC-10.6 |
Uncooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥9.0x106 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-5 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥1.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤20000 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥3.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4000 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-9 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
9.0 |
≥4.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤40 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.4x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-12 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
12.0 |
≥4.5x107 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PC-2TE-13 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
13.0 |
≥2.3x107 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤2 |
 |
 |
PC-3TE-9 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
9.0 |
≥1.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤60 |
 |
 |
PC-3TE-10.6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥2.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤20 |
 |
 |
PC-3TE-12 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
12.0 |
≥9.0x107 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤5 |
 |
 |
PC-3TE-13 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
13.0 |
≥6.0x107 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PC-4TE-9 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
9.0 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PC-4TE-10.6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥3.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤30 |
 |
 |
PC-4TE-12 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
12.0 |
≥2.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤7 |
 |
 |
PC-4TE-13 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
13.0 |
≥1.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤6 |
 |
 |
PC-4TE-14 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
14.0 |
≥6.0x107 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤5 |
 |
 |
PCI-5 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥4.0x109 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤5000 |
 |
 |
PCI-6 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥1.0x109 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤500 |
 |
 |
PCI-9 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
9.0 |
≥1.0x108 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PCI-10.6 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥8.0x107 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-5 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥2.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤20000 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥1.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4000 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-9 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
9.0 |
≥4.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤40 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-12 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
12.0 |
≥4.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PCI-2TE-13 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
13.0 |
≥2.3x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤2 |
 |
 |
PCI-3TE-9 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
9.0 |
≥6.2x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤60 |
 |
 |
PCI-3TE-10.6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥2.5x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤20 |
 |
 |
PCI-3TE-12 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
12.0 |
≥9.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤5 |
 |
 |
PCI-3TE-13 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
13.0 |
≥4.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PCI-4TE-9 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
9.0 |
≥1.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PCI-4TE-10.6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥3.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤30 |
 |
 |
PCI-4TE-12 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
12.0 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤7 |
 |
 |
PCI-4TE-13 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
13.0 |
≥1.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤6 |
 |
 |
PCI-4TE-14 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
14.0 |
≥3.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤5 |
 |