Characterization of Mid-Infrared Intersubband Detectors for Astronomical Heterodyne Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper evaluates mid-infrared intersubband detectors, specifically quantum well infrared photodetectors, for their potential use in astronomical heterodyne interferometry, focusing on their noise, bandwidth, and dynamic range capabilities.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of quantum well infrared photodetectors for mid-infrared applications in astronomy, highlighting their suitability for heterodyne detection.

Findings

Quantum well infrared photodetectors exhibit high bandwidths suitable for 10 GHz applications.

The detectors demonstrate acceptable noise levels and dynamic range for heterodyne measurements.

Potential integration of these detectors into astronomical systems for improved sensitivity.

Abstract

One of the major challenges of mid-infrared astronomical heterodyne interferometry is its sensitivity limitations. Detectors capable of handling several 10 GHz bandwidths have been identified as key building blocks of future instruments. Intersubband detectors based on heterostructures have recently demonstrated their ability to provide such performances. In this work we characterize a Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector in terms of noise, dynamic range and bandwidth in a non-interferometric heterodyne set-up. We discuss the possibility to use them on astronomical systems to measure the beating between the local oscillator and the astronomical signal.