Terahertz detection schemes based on sequential multi‐photon absorption

To overcome the problems arising when the operation frequency of standard quantum well infrared photodetectors is pushed down to the terahertz regime we present a novel design based on sequential multi‐photon absorption in a multi‐bound‐state quantum well. To investigate the feasibility of this new architecture we start considering a rate‐equation one‐dimensional parabolic‐potential model and then develop a fully numeric solution of the Boltzmann transport equation for a more realistic three‐dimensional structure.