Theoretical investigations of a proposed series integration of resonant tunneling diodes for millimeter-wave power generation

Abstract

The double-barrier quantum-well resonant tunneling diode (RTD) has great potential for power generation at millimeter-wave frequencies. If a number of RTDs are integrated in series, the integrated device can greatly increase the total output power and help remove the problem of low-frequency spurious oscillations associated with a single RTD. The feasibility of such a series integration scheme is investigated. The advanced monolithic nonlinear transmission line (NLTL) generating picosecond voltage shock waves can be used to initiate oscillation in such series-integrated RTDs to overcome the DC instability. The large-signal RF characteristics of the series-integrated RTDs are analyzed and simulated, including transit time effects in the depletion region. Available GaAs-AlAs RTD data was used to obtain computer simulation results showing that a total CW output power of about 0.1 W with a DC-to-RF conversion efficiency of about 8% can be generated to a 5- Omega load at 100 GHz, if ten such RTDs are integrated in series. >