Responsivity improvements for a vanadium oxide microbolometer using subwavelength resonant absorbers

Abstract

Subwavelength resonant structures designed for long-wave infrared (LWIR) absorption have been integrated with a standard vanadium-oxide microbolometer. Dispersion of the dielectric refractive index provides for multiple overlapping resonances that span the 8-12 μm LWIR wavelength band, a broader range than can be achieved using the usual quarter-wave resonant cavity engineered into the air-bridge structures. Experimental measurements show a 49% increase in responsivity for LWIR and a 71% increase across a full waveband as compared to a similar device designed for only LWIR absorption, using a 300°C blackbody at 35 Hz chopping rate. Increased thermal time constant due to additional mass is shown to lessen this enhancement at higher chopping rates.