Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Transient response times for extrinsic photoconductors under constant voltage bias have been calculated using a variable finite-difference technique. We find that the transient response to a step function increase in photon signal is determined by the build-up of a space charge barrier to counteract out-diffusion and sweep-out. Transient times on the order of 10−2 – 10−4 s are found for 20–500 μm thick detectors under the photon backgrounds typical of infrared astronomy and other low background spectroscopy applications.