Modulation Doped Field-Effect Transistors in Strained Layer Superlattices.

Abstract

In the mm-wave device investigation the limitations imposed by parasitic elements upon high-frequency performance were investigated. It was determined that the high field domain that forms in the channel of field-effect type transistors presents a limitation to high frequency operation. The domain capacitance creates a complex pole in the unilateral gain that results in a 12 db/octave roll-off above the resonant frequency of the pole. The various factors that effect this pole have been investigated. Current FETs are limited to upper operation frequencies of about 150-160 GHz. The GaAs(1-y)P(y)-Ga(1-yInx)As material system is proposed for potential HEMT applications. This structure is made of strained layers that can be grown with y = 2x free from dislocations, and lattice matched to a GaAs substrate. HEMT devices fabricated in such structure have several potential advantages over the conventional AlGaAs-GaAs HEMT. First, the active layer is Ga(1-x)In(x)As instead of GaAs. Thus, the potential exists for higher room temperature mobilities with larger saturation velocities and a larger conduction band edge discontinuity. An advantage over the Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As-InP system is that the composition of the Ga(1-x)In(x)As in the proposed structure can be varied to optimize the HEMT performance, whereas the Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As has a fairly low bandgap for optimum FET devices.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 27, 1986
Accession Number
ADA176763

Entities

People

  • R. J. Trew
  • S. M. Bedair

Organizations

  • North Carolina State University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Capacitance
  • Conduction Bands
  • Crystal Lattices
  • Discontinuities
  • Dislocations
  • Energy Bands
  • Field Effect Transistors
  • Frequency
  • Materials
  • Mobility
  • Modulation
  • Resonant Frequency
  • Saturation
  • Substrates
  • Transistors

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Microwave Engineering.
  • Semiconductor Device Technology