StrOng Light-matter coupling for quantum cascade Infrared Detectors – SOLID

Efficient infrared detectors in the mid-IR spectral range (3um<lambda<12um) are of crucial importance for a variety of applications, from spectroscopy, space observation and trace gas sensing, up to imaging. This proposal aims at demonstrating quantum cascade infrared detectors (QCD) in the 2nd atmospheric windows (8-12 um), and compatible with imaging applications, with improved BLIP temperature with respect to the state of art, thanks to operation in the strong light-matter coupling regime. We target a 15K improvement in TBLIP. <br />This result would be important for infrared imaging technology. An additional objective, that is functional to develop optimized devices, is to elucidate the mechanism of coupling between an electronic reservoir (undressed states) and a polaritonic system (dressed states).
It is a longstanding, and unresolved, problem in intersubband polaritonics. Its solution would provide a crucial advance in the understanding of polaritonic systems under electrical pumping.