REPLY TO COMMENT ON TEMPERATURE LIMITS ON INFRARED DETECTIVITIES OF INAS INXGA1-XSB SUPERLATTICES AND BULK HG1-XCDXTE [J-APPL-PHYS 80, 2542(1996)]/

Despite the preceding Comment's assertions, the maximum theoretical de tectivities of LWIR InAs/InGaSb superlattices are greater than those o f HgCdTe provided the comparison involves the same base layer thicknes ses (greater than the minority carrier diffusion length). The higher o ptimal doping of the superlattices relative to HgCdTe results in noise suppression. It is desirable because Auger recombination is substanti ally depressed. Shockley-Van Roosbroeck optical recombination and henc e photon recycling is of little consequence in realistic device struct ures. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.