The wideband tunability of double Gunn diodes
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-15-2023
Keywords
Doping, Electronic transport, Semiconductors, Gunn diode, Electrical properties and parameters, Gunn effect, Radio spectrum, Cryogenics, RADAR, Phonon scattering
Abstract
Gunn diodes use the Ridley–Watkins–Hilsum effect to generate low noise millimeter wave signals for communication and sensing applications. However, Monte Carlo calculations indicate that the velocity–field characteristics of compensated GaAs contain a second peak due to phonon scattering. A novel device that leverages this double Ridley–Watkins–Hilsum effect to achieve ultra-wideband tunability of low-noise millimeter waves is proposed in this article. The second region of negative differential mobility is gradually introduced in seven mobility profiles, which are each simulated in eight device lengths. It is found that a 2.5 μm Gunn diode with a compensation ratio of 0.6 operating at 160 K has a 700% increase in frequency tunability. An analysis of the domain formation indicates that the increase in tunability is due to significant distortions in domain shape. Gunn diodes with transit lengths of 2 μm and smaller show a 100% increase in tunability due to modulations in the effective transit length and absorption rate. These simulations indicate that compensated GaAs could provide linear, ultra-wideband frequency tunability.
Citation
Butts, L., & El-Ghazaly, S. (2023). The wideband tunability of double Gunn diodes. AIP Advances, 13 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0140904
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Comments
This article was published with support from the Open Access Publishing Fund administered through the University of Arkansas Libraries.