Corrugated quantum well infrared photodetectors for polarization detection

In this letter, we propose the use of the newly developed corrugated quantu m well infrared photodetectors (C-QWIPs) for polarization detection. The co rrugated structure, which serves as an optical coupler as well as the polar ization-sensitive component, is in this case directly created into the acti ve region of the QWIP, therefore dispensed with the need of an external pol arizer. Moreover, four C-QWIPs with differently oriented corrugated pattern s can be integrated as one unit, thus allowing a precise, real-time measure ment of the polarization state. The polarimetry of this detector unit was c haracterized using a blackbody source and a metal grating polarizer. (C) 19 99 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)00706-8].