Quantum well radiation detectors: assessment and perspectives

A discussion is given of two types of ionizing particle detectors, which ar e based on radiation-generated charge carrier capture into quantum wells of semiconductors. The principle of operation of the two detector types depen ds on the strength of the coupling between the quantum wells. The first, is olated quantum well detector, is based on fast electron-hole pair recombina tion into 2D excitons and their decay into light quanta. The second, couple d quantum well detector, is based on electron and hole hopping between quan tum wells. The advantages and limitations of the detectors are discussed. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.