Picosecond Radiation-Induced Current Transients in Digital GaAs MESFETs,

Abstract

Picosecond-resolution measurements of the current transients produced when energetic ions (alpha particles) interact with high-speed digital GaAs MESFETs are presented. Measurements as a function of device bias and temperature reveal the presence of several different contributions to the charge-collection transients, ranging in time scale from picoseconds to microseconds. The effects of permanent radiation damage are found to degrade device performance to the extent that reliable measurement of the ion-induced transients is difficult and, in many cases, impossible. The use of above-bandgap picosecond laser excitation is revealed to be a viable alternative to the use of heavy ions for characterization of the charge-collection dynamics in semiconductor devices.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 22, 1992
Accession Number
ADP007653

Entities

People

  • Alvin R. Knudson
  • Arthur B. Campbell
  • Dale McMorrow
  • Todd R. Weatherford

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Alpha Particles
  • Compound Semiconductors
  • Determinants (Mathematics)
  • Dynamics
  • Electronics
  • Excitation
  • Measurement
  • Microsecond Time
  • Optoelectronics
  • Particles
  • Picosecond Time
  • Radiation
  • Semiconductor Devices
  • Semiconductors
  • Solid State Electronics

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Semiconductor Device Technology

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Microelectronics