Thermal detector of electromagnetic radiation comprising a thermometer diode

A thermal detector of electromagnetic radiation, comprising:

• an absorber configured to heat up by absorption of the electromagnetic radiation,
• a thermal transducer comprising a diode thermally coupled to the absorber, the diode comprising a defective region, a spacer layer and a charge layer, all three interposed between an anode and a cathode of the diode, such that:
• the charge layer has a concentration of majority carriers at least 100 times greater than a concentration of majority carriers in the spacer layer,
• the defective region and the spacer layer are in contact with the charge layer on opposite sides thereof,
• the defective region comprises crystalline defects and has a gap energy strictly lower than a gap energy of the charge layer,
• the charge layer and the defective region are disposed on the same side of the diode, relative to a junction of the diode;
• the thermal detector further comprises a readout circuit configured to:
• reverse bias the diode to a bias voltage Vd whose absolute value is strictly lower than the absolute value of the breakdown voltage of the diode, so as to extend a space-charge zone of the diode until it reaches the defective region, and
• read a dark current of the diode when it is biased to the bias voltage VD.