RADIATION MONITORING DEVICES, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N231-070

Description

There is significant need in solar blind ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodetectors. When mounted at small satellites and microsatellites, these are used for remote sensing of the ionosphere and thermosphere, satellite-to-satellite deep-UV communication, and as a component of the missile early warning system. High-quality spaceflight solar blind photodetectors should demonstrate a high sensitivity with > 105 rejection ratio of UV/ visible light, do not require high operation voltage, be compatible with the spacecraft materials, and survive in the -50 ºC to + 60 ºC temperature range.       RMD Inc. aims to develop Ga2O3-based detectors that meet these requirements. This ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor has an intrinsic wide bandgap of 4.4 –5.3 eV, boasts a large absorption coefficient, and can be grown at the native substrates. Performance of fabricated detectors will be rigorously tested in the temperature range from -50 °C to  +60 °C and after the exposure to ionizing radiation.