Skip to main content
Log in

Theoretical Study of RF Breakdown in GaN Wurtzite and Zincblende Phase MESFETs

  • Published:
Journal of Computational Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

In this paper, we present a comparison of the RF breakdown behaviors of representative wurtzite and zincblende phase GaN MESFET structures based on a theoretical analysis. The calculations are made using a full band ensemble, Monte Carlo simulation that includes a numerical formulation of the impact ionization transition rate. Calculations of the RF breakdown voltages are presented for submicron MESFET devices made from either wurtzite or zincblende phase GaN. The devices are otherwise identical. It is found that the RF-breakdown voltage of the devices increases with increasing frequency of the applied large signal RF excitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ambacher O., Foutz B., Smart J., Shealy J.R., Weimann N.G., Chu K., Murphy M., Sierakowski A.J., Schaff W.J., Eastman L.F., Dimitrov R., Mitchell A., and Stutzmann M. 2000. J. Appl. Phys. 87: 334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti E., Doshi B.K., Brennan K.F., Albrecht J.D., and Ruden P.P. 1999a. J. Appl. Phys. 85: 916.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti E., Nilsson H.-E., Brennan K.F., and Ruden P.P. 1999b. J. Appl. Phys. 85: 3211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti E., Nilsson H.-E., Brennan K.F., Ruden P.P., and Trew R. 2000. J. Appl. Phys. 87: 3864.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan K.F., Bellotti E., Farahmand M., Haralson II J., Ruden P.P., Albrecht J.D., and Sutandi A. 2000a. Solid-State Electron 44: 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan K.F., Bellotti E., Farahmand M., Nilsson H.-E., Ruden P.P., and Zhang Y. 2000b. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 47: 1882.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan K.F., Kolnik J., Oguzman I.H., Bellotti E., Farahmand M., Ruden P.P., Wang R., and Albrecht J.D. 2000c. In: Pearton S.J. (Ed.), GaN and Related Materials II, Vol. 7. Gordon and Breach, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eastman L.F. 1999. Phys. Stat. Sol. (a) 176: 175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farahmand M. and Brennan K.F. 1999. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 46: 1319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farahmand M. and Brennan K.F. 2000. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 47: 493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farahmand M., Brennan K.F., Gebara E., Heo D., Suh Y., and Laskar J. 2001a. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 48: 1844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farahmand M., Garetto C., Bellotti E., Brennan K.F., Goano M., Ghillino E., Ghione G., Albrecht J.D., and Ruden P.P. 2001b. IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 48: 535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heo D., Yoo S., Chen E., Gebara E., Hmai M., and Laskar J. 2000. In: Proc. IEEE Int. Microw. Symp. Boston, MA.

  • Kolnik J., Oguzman I.H., Brennan K.F., Wang R., and Ruden P.P. 1997. J. Appl. Phys. 81: 726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oguzman I.H., Bellotti E., Brennan K.F., Kolnik J., Wang R., and Ruden P.P. 1997. J. Appl. Phys. 81: 7827.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shichijo H. and Hess K. 1981. Phys. Rev. B 23: 4197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shur M.S. 1998. Solid-State Electron 42: 2131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith D.L. 1986. Solid-State Commun. 57: 919.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tkachenko Y.A., Wei C.J., and Hwang J.C.M. 1996. In: Proc. 47th ARFTG Conf. Dig. San Francisco, CA, p. 67.

  • Trew R.J. 1998. In: Willardson R.K. and Beer A.C. (Eds.), Semiconductors and Semimetals, Vol. 52. Academic Press, New York, p. 237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verghese S., McIntosh K.A., Molnar R.J., Mahoney L.J., Aggarwal R.L., Geis M.W., Molvar K.M., Duerr E.K., and Melngailis I. 2001.IEEE Trans. Electron Dev. 48: 502.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Weber, M., Tirino, L., Brennan, K. et al. Theoretical Study of RF Breakdown in GaN Wurtzite and Zincblende Phase MESFETs. Journal of Computational Electronics 1, 235–239 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020737827261

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020737827261

Navigation