The present invention relates to MSM photodetectors based on the
high electron mobility
transistor (HEMT) structure. More specifically, the present invention relates to MSM photodetectors based on the
high electron mobility
transistor (HEMT) structure that use a
barrier layer of the HEMT structure as a
Schottky barrier layer of the
photodetector and use the channel layer of the HEMT structure as an
absorption layer of the
photodetector by
doping the bottom part of the channel layer with a p-type
dopant. Modification of the HEMT structure for the MSM
photodetector can enhance
electron current and suppress hole current, resulting in an impulse
photocurrent response having a narrow pulse width. The present invention comprises an undoped buffer layer grown on the semi-insulating substrate, a p-doped channel layer that is used as an
absorption layer grown on the said buffer layer, an undoped channel layer that is used as an
absorption layer grown on the said channel layer, an undoped
barrier layer that is composed of a material having a larger
band gap energy than the said channel
layers grown on the said undoped channel layer, a heavily n-type
delta-doped
barrier layer that is composed of a material having a larger
band gap energy than the said channel
layers grown on the said undoped barrier layer, and an undoped barrier layer that is composed of a material having a larger
band gap energy than the said channel
layers grown on the said heavily n-type
delta-doped barrier layer.