Abstract:
In order to obtain an optimum freedom in the choice of the material in a semitransparent photocathode which consists of IIIV semiconductor compounds and in which the matching of the lattice constant of the active layer to that of the substrate is achieved by an intermediate layer, and thus to arrive at a sensitivity and/or optical wide band condition which is as high as possible, according to the invention the composition of the intermediate layer is independent of the substrate and of the active layer and its lattice constant differs from the lattice constant of the active layer by less than 0.3% and differs from the grid constant of the substrate up to several per cent, for example up to 3%. Such a photocathode may consist in particular of a substrate of GaP, an intermediate layer of AlxGa1 xAs with x>0.8 and an active layer of GaAs.
Abstract translation:为了获得在由III-V族半导体化合物组成的半透明光电阴极中选择材料的最佳自由度,并且通过中间层实现了有源层的晶格常数与衬底的晶格常数的匹配, 并且因此达到尽可能高的灵敏度和/或光学宽带状态,根据本发明,中间层的组成与衬底和有源层无关,其晶格常数不同于晶格常数 的活性层小于0.3%,并且不同于衬底的栅格常数达几个百分比,例如高达3%。 这种光电阴极可以特别包括GaP的衬底,具有x> 0.8的Al x Ga 1-x As的中间层和GaAs的有源层。
Abstract:
A sandwich structure of photosensitive junctions in series with a mosaic of photoemitters. An external grid is positioned adjacent the mosaic of photoemitters and has the high voltage side of a step up voltage divider thereto with the low voltage side connected to the input side of the sandwich structure. The sandwich structure and external grid are enclosed in a vacuum envelope for converting an input optical radiant image into an electron image for display on an electroluminescent screen. A bias light is uniformly flooded over the mosaic of photoemitters to provide saturation electron current therefrom. The flow of electrons emitted from the photoemitters are in proportion to the intensity of infrared light incident on the input side of the sandwich structure. The input side of the structure has an antireflection coating thereof for aiding the incident infrared light in producing electron-hole pairs across the photosensitive junctions.
Abstract:
A tuneable field assisted photocathode structured as a three layer double heterojunction device with a low work function cesium oxide coating on the electron emitting surface. An internal field assistance bias aids the flow of electrons from a narrow bandgap region, where they are photo-generated, to the wider bandgap negative electron affinity surface region for vacuum emission.
Abstract:
A PHOTOEMITTER HAVING A HIGH QUANTUM EFFICIENCY AND A LOW WORK FUNCTION FOR PHOTOEMISSION, E.G. PHOTOELECTRIC THRESHOLD, IS FORMED BY DEPOSITING A 10-100 A. FILM OF A WIDE BANDGAP GROUP III-V COMPOUND, E.G. GALLIUM PHOSPHIDE, ATOP A 0.5-10 MICRON THICK LAYER OF A SECOND GROUP III-V COMPOUND, E.G. GALLIUM ANTIMONIDE, HAVING A BANDGAP MATCHING THE DESIRED PHOTOELECTRIC THRESHOLD. THE FILM SURFACE THEN IS TREATED WITH CESIUM (OR CESIUM AND OXYGEN) TO REDUCE THE SURFACE WORK FUNCTION OF THE COMPOSITE STRUCTURE TO THE DESIRED PHOTOELECTRIC THRESHOLD. WHEN THE GROUP III-V LAYER FORMING THE PHOTOEMITTER IS EPITAXIALLY GROWN ATOP AN ORIENTED SUBSTRATE OF A SEMICONDUCTIVE MATERIAL SUCH AS GALLIUM ARSENIDE HAVING A BANDGAP WIDER THAN THE BANDGAP OF THE OVERLYING LAYER, THE RESULTING PHOTOEMITTER IS TRANSPARENT ONLY IN A RANGE BETWEEN THE BANDGAP OF THE SUBSTRATE AND THE BANDGAP OF THE OVERLYING LAYER.
Abstract:
A night vision device (10) includes an image intensifier tube (14) which includes a photocathode (22) responsive both to white light and to infrared light to release photoelectrons. The photocathode (22) is particularly sensitive to infrared light at the 980 nm wavelength, and has desirable spectral response characteristics.
Abstract:
A photoelectric emission surface which is excellent in stability and reproducibility of photoelectric conversion characteristics and has a structure capable of obtaining a high photosensitivity is provided. A predetermined voltage is applied between an upper surface electrode (15) and a lower surface electrode (17) by a battery (18). Upon application of this voltage, a p-n junction formed between a contact layer (14) and an electron emission layer (13) is reversely biased. A depletion layer extends from the p-n junction into the photoelectric emission surface, and an electric field is formed in the electron emission layer and a light absorbing layer (12) in a direction for accelerating photoelectrons. When incident light is absorbed in the light absorbing layer into excite photoelectrons, the photoelectrons are accelerated by the electric field toward the emission surface. The photoelectrons obtain an energy upon this electric field acceleration, and are transited, in the electron emission layer, to a conduction band at a higher energy level, and emitted into a vacuum.