Potentiality of Impact Avalanche Transit Time Diode as Terahertz Source Based on Group IV and III–V Semiconducting Materials

Abstract

Through the numerical approach, we have determined the response time in avalanche and drift regions of the double drift region (DDR) impact ionization avalanche transit time (IMPATT) diode based on group IV materials like silicon (Si), germanium (Ge) and group III–V materials like wurtzite gallium nitride (WzGaN), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) at the window frequency of 0.094–30 THz. The study of response time reveals that it has impact on the limitation on high frequency power generated by the IMPATT as terahertz source. A comparison is being made for all the materials so that diode can be designed with suitable material as per the requirement for THz applications. Also DC-to-radio frequency (RF) conversion efficiency for InP, GaAs, Si, Ge and WzGaN is computed through the numerical technique. The efficiency obtained for all the materials are compared at the corresponding THz frequency.