Photovoltaic detectors (photodiodes) are semiconductor structures that have one (PV) or multiple (PVM) homojunction or heterojunctions. Absorbed photons generate charge carriers that accumulate at the contacts, leading to an external photocurrent.
Photodiodes are known to have complex current-voltage properties. Such devices can work either with reverse voltage or at flicker-free zero bias. A reverse bias voltage is often used to boost responsivity and differential resistance, increase the dynamic range, decrease the shot noise and enhance high-frequency performance.
Selected Line
The 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 optimal performance and stability.
The photoconductor has been improved to deliver optimum performance at 12 µm. The detector element is monolithically incorporated with hyper hemispherical GaAs microlens to enhance the performance of the device.
Photoconductive detectors are expected to work in optimal bias voltage and current readout mode. Thanks to 1/f noise, low-frequency performance is decreased, while the 3° wedged zinc selenide anti-reflection-coated (wZnSeAR) window prevents undesirable interference effects.
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 |
 |
PVI-5-1×1-TO39-NW-36 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥1.0×1010 |
TO39 |
≤150 |
 |
 |
PVI-4-1×1-TO39-NW-36 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥3.0x1010 |
TO39 |
≤150 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-4-1×1-TO8-wAl2O3-36 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥3.0x1011 |
TO8 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-5-1×1-TO8-wAl2O3-36 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥9.0x1010 |
TO8 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-6-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥4.0×1010 |
TO8 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-6-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥6.0×1010 |
TO8 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PVM-10.6-1×1-TO39-NW-90 |
Uncooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x107 |
TO39 |
≤1.5 |
 |
 |
PVM-2TE-10.6-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-70 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0×108 |
TO8 |
≤90 |
 |
 |
PVMI-2TE-10.6-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x109 |
TO8 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PVMI-4TE-10.6-1×1-TO8-wZnSeAR-36 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥2.5x109 |
TO8 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PEM-10.6-2×2-PEM-SMA-wZnSeAR-48 |
Uncooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x107 |
PEM with SMA connector |
≤1.2 |
 |
All HgCdTe (MCT) Photovoltaic Detectors
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 |
 |
PV-3 |
Uncooled |
No |
3.0 |
≥6.5x109 |
BNC,
TO8,
TO39 |
≤350 |
 |
 |
PV-3.4 |
Uncooled |
No |
3.4 |
≥5.0x109 |
BNC,
TO8,
TO39 |
≤260 |
 |
 |
PV-4 |
Uncooled |
No |
4.0 |
≥3.0x109 |
BNC,
TO8,
TO39 |
≤150 |
 |
 |
PV-5 |
Uncooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥1.0x109 |
BNC,
TO8,
TO39 |
≤120 |
 |
 |
PV-6 |
Uncooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥5.0x108 |
BNC,
TO8,
TO39 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-3 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.0 |
≥7.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-3.4 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.4 |
≥4.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-4 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
4.0 |
≥3.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-5 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥9.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-8 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
8.0 |
≥2.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PV-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-3 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.0 |
≥1.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-3.4 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.4 |
≥7.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-4 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
4.0 |
≥4.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-5 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥1.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥4.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-8 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
8.0 |
≥3.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PV-3TE-10.6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.5x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-3 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.0 |
≥1.5x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-3.4 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
3.4 |
≥1.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-4 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
4.0 |
≥6.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-5 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
5.0 |
≥1.5x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
6.0 |
≥5.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-8 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
8.0 |
≥4.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PV-4TE-10.6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥2.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤25 |
 |
 |
PVI-3 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
3.0 |
≥5.0x1010 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤350 |
 |
 |
PVI-3.4 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
3.4 |
≥4.5x1010 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤260 |
 |
 |
PVI-4 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥2.0x1010 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤150 |
 |
 |
PVI-5 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥9.0x1010 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤120 |
 |
 |
PVI-6 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥4.0x109 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-3 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.0 |
≥5.5x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-3.4 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.4 |
≥3.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-4 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥2.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-5 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥6.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥2.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-8 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PVI-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-3 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.0 |
≥7.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-3.4 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.4 |
≥5.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-4 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥3.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-5 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥8.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥3.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-8 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥3.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PVI-3TE-10.6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.5x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤10 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-3 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.0 |
≥8.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤280 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-3.4 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
3.4 |
≥7.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤200 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-4 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
4.0 |
≥4.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤100 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-5 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
5.0 |
≥1.0x1011 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤80 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
6.0 |
≥4.0x1010 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤50 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-8 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥4.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤45 |
 |
 |
PVI-4TE-10.6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤25 |
 |
 |
PVM-8 |
Uncooled |
No |
8.0 |
≥6.5x107 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVM-10.6 |
Uncooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x107 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤1.5 |
 |
 |
PVM-2TE-8 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
8.0 |
≥3.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVM-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x108 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PVMI-8 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥3.0x108 |
TO39,
BNC |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVMI-10.6 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x108 |
BNC,
TO39 |
≤1.5 |
 |
 |
PVMI-2TE-8 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVMI-2TE-10.6 |
Two-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PVMI-3TE-8 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥3.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVMI-3TE-10.6 |
Three-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10,6 |
≥1.5x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PVMI-4TE-8 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
8.0 |
≥6.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤4 |
 |
 |
PVMI-4TE-10.6 |
Four-stage TE cooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥2.0x109 |
TO8,
TO66 |
≤3 |
 |
 |
PEM-10.6 |
Uncooled |
No |
10.6 |
≥1.0x107 |
PEM-SMA,
PEM-TO8 |
≤1.2 |
 |
 |
PEMI-10.6 |
Uncooled |
Yes |
10.6 |
≥1.0x108 |
PEM-SMA,
PEM-TO8 |
≤1.2 |
 |