
Advanced Detectors, Systems & Nanoscience
Advances generated at MDL will extend our vision to unprecedented sensitivities, enabling future discoveries and capabilities.
MDL develops high-performance devices, instrument components, and systems through innovative design and nanoscale bandstructure engineering by employing epitaxial techniques such as molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Through the use of JPL-invented delta-doping and superlattice-doping MBE techniques, we can achieve 100% internal quantum efficiency (QE). By combining these techniques with novel antireflection coatings using ALD, we have demonstrated reliable and repeatable performance in QE in the ultraviolet. ALD is now in use to develop highly reflective coatings to enable higher-throughput UV instruments. Additionally, these techniques can be applied to other materials and detector systems such as gallium nitride and its alloys for detector and photocathode configuration. While work is largely in support of astrophysics, planetary, and heliophysics research, studies are also underway for applications in medical diagnostics and industrial uses.