RADIO PHYSICS AND RADIO ASTRONOMY

Subject and Purpose. The InN Gunn diode is known as the device capable of generating powerful oscillations at frequencies above 300 GHz. A possible way for increasing both the microwave power and the cutoff frequency of the Gunn diode is to employ gradedgap semiconductors. The subject of this research is the process for generating electrical oscillations in InN and graded-gap GaInN Gunn diodes that involve resistive contacts at the cathode and the anode, and possess a 1-μm long active region. The research is aimed at suggesting an optimized structure for the graded-gap GaInN diode to obtain a maximum microwave power and maximum frequency of the oscillations, while consuming the lowest possible amount of DC power.

Methods and Methodology. А hydrodynamic simulation has been performed of transport of electrons in graded-gap semiconductors, and an integro-differential equation analyzed concerning voltage drop across elements of the related RLC circuit.

Results. The power spectra of oscillations have been analyzed for a variety of parameters of both the Gunn diode and the RLC circuit. The frequency dependences of the oscillatory power, characteristic of different electron concentrations, provide evidence for the possibility of obtaining considerable microwave powers at frequencies above 300 GHz through the use of graded-gap GaInN diodes.

Conclusion. The results that have been obtained clearly confirm the expected practicality of using a graded GaInN layer in the InN diode for increasing the power of microwave oscillations, reducing the necessary level of the DC power, and restraining the dependence of the output characteristics on the electron density. The highest power of oscillations has been demonstrated by the InN diode with a 0.1 μm long graded-gap layer of GaInN. Meanwhile, the oscillation frequency generated in that diode is somewhat lower than in the InN diode. A compromise between the values of generated power and the oscillation frequency has been reached in the diode with a graded-gap GaInN layer of 0.9 μm in length. In addition, the latter structure requires the lowest level of DC power for effectuating microwave generation at the higher feasible frequencies.

Keywords: Gunn diode, indium nitride, gallium-indium nitride, terahertz range, graded-gap semiconductor, oscillator, oscillatory power, output power, cutoff frequency, intervalley transfer of electrons

Manuscript submitted 05.07.2022

Radio phys. radio astron. 2022, 27(4):289-298

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