MODAL-ANALYSIS OF TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN SPRITE DETECTORS

Carrier transport in signal-processing-in-the-element (SPRITE) detecto rs is an important phenomenon because it determines properties such as the responsivity and the modulation transfer function (MTF). The prev ious literature has presented approximate solutions to the transport p roblem that neglect boundary effects, which have long been thought to play a major role in SPRITE behavior. We present a new solution to the problem through the use of modal analysis. This method intrinsically includes boundary conditions and thus is more complete than the previo us analysis. Furthermore we use this solution to derive expressions fo r the MTF. The effects of the boundary conditions on the MTF are studi ed to determine their optimum values.