Enhancement in Light Emission From Hg–Cd–Te Due to Surface Patterning

Enhancement of light emission from HgCdTe due to surface patterning has been studied by means of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. A triangular pattern of circular holes was etched into the CdTe layer grown on top of HgCdTe thin-film and multiple quantum well samples. Two different pattern lattice constants were used, giving lattice constant a G to emission wavelength ratios of 0.9, 1.2, and 2.1. The surface pattern was found to give 26%-35% enhancement in measured PL intensity.