Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate Research Areas

Optical Interactions in Semiconductors and Nanostructures

Advisor: Amirtharaj, Paul M. (paul.amirtharaj@us.army.mil 301-394-0940)
Keywords: Photonics; Optoelectronics; Novel semiconductors; Nanotechnology; Nanostructures

The interaction of light with semiconductors may be used as a powerful probe of their physical behavior and exploited to produce useful devices. SEDD has a wide range of semiconductor growth, analyses, and device fabrication facilities that are being used to produce novel optical devices for the US Army, including quantum-dot based infrared detectors, quantum-well based detectors and lasers, and related optoelectronic and photonic devices. The emerging field of nanotechnology is also being developed for sensor applications. This research project focuses on understanding the microscopic processes that lead to desirable optical properties that may be exploited to aid the soldier.