Potential of asymmetrical Si/Ge and Ge/Si based hetero-junction transit time devices over homo-junction counterparts for generation of high power

Abstract

Static and dynamic properties of both complementary n-Ge/p-Si and p-Ge/n-Si hetero-junction Double-Drift IMPATT diodes have been investigated by an advanced and realistic computer simulation technique, developed by the authors, for operation in the Ka-, V- and W-band frequencies. The results are further compared with corresponding Si and Ge homo-junction devices. The study shows high values of device efficiency, such as 23%, 22% and 21.5%, for n-Ge/p-Si IMPATTs at the Ka, V and W bands, respectively. The peak device negative conductances for n-Si/p-Ge and n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction devices found to be 50.7 × 106 S/m2 and 71.3 × 106 S/m2, which are ∼3–4 times better than their Si and Ge counterparts at the V-band. The computed values of RF power-density for n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction IMPATTs are 1.0 × 109, 1.1 × 109 and 1.4 × 109 W/m2, respectively, for Ka-, V- and W-band operation, which can be observed to be the highest when compared with Si, Ge and n-Si/p-Ge devices. Both of the hetero-junctions, especially the n-Ge/p-Si hetero-junction diode, can thus become a superior RF-power generator over a wide range of frequencies. The present study will help the device engineers to choose a suitable material pair for the development of high-power MM-wave IMPATT for applications in the civil and defense-related arena.