Analysis of Electrical and Thermal Models for Pulsed IMPATT Diode Simulation

Some nonlinear models are presented for modeling and analyzing IMPATT high-power pulse diodes. These models are suitable for analyzing different operating modes of the oscillator. The first model is a precise one, which describes all important electrical phenomena on the basis of the continuity equations and Poisson´s equation, and it is correct until 300 GHz. The second approximate mathematical model suitable for the analysis of IMPATT diode stationary operation oscillator and for optimization of internal structure of the diode. The temperature distribution in the semiconductor structure is obtained using the special thermal model of the IMPATT diode, which is based on the numerical solution of the non-linear thermal conductivity equation. The described models can be applied for the analysis, optimization and practical design of pulsedmode millimetric IMPATT diodes. It can also be used to evaluate the thermal behavior of diodes, to correctly select the shape and amplitude of a supply pulse, and to design various types of high-power pulsed millimeter IMPATT diodes with a complex doping profile with improved characteristics.

IMPATT Efficiency Extraction Using On-Chip Antenna Radiation

IMPATT diodes were designed and integrated with microstrip patch antenna on–chip in standard CMOS technology to extract the efficiency beyond avalanche frequency. By comparing the on-chip simulations and measurements of an IMPATT diode integrated in a CPW to an integrated one with a microstrip patch antenna at the same biasing conditions, the results demonstrated an efficiency ranging from ~ 0.01% to 0.016% without and with the added surface roughness losses, respectively. Such variation is strongly associated with the uncertainty provided by the increase of conduction losses ranging between 40%~80% beyond the avalanche frequency.

Synchronization of pulsed and continuous-wave IMPATT oscillators in the millimeter wavelength range. Part 2. Stabilizing microwave parameters of synchronized generators

This is the second part of the two-part article, which summarizes the state-of-the-art results in the development of synchronized oscillators based on IMPATT (IMPact ionization Avalanche Transit-Time) diodes. The first part of the paper presented the electrodynamic design of oscillators, which contain a resonant oscillatory system with silicon IMPATT diodes and are synchronized by an external source of microwave oscillations. The second part of the paper considers the methods for stabilizing the parameters of IMPATT oscillators, which make it possible to create coherent power sources in the millimeter wavelength range. The specifics of pulse generators lies in the change in frequency within the microwave pulse relative to the change in temperature, which leads to a change in the impedance of the diode and thus to a phase change with respect to the synchronizing signal. Phase modulation is reduced or completely eliminated (which is necessary to ensure the coherence of the microwave transmitter) by using current compensation, i.e., by using the control current pulse with a special shape. The study demonstrates the expediency of introducing additional heating of the semiconductor structure of the IMPATT diode, which allows the initial temperature of the IMPATT diode in the region of the leading edge of each pulse to remain virtually constant and independent of the ambient temperature. Using these methods on silicon double-drift IMPATT diodes allowed creating synchronized oscillators with high frequency stability and an output power level from 20 to 150 W, which have a high degree of coherence in the synchronization mode with an external signal. The paper also presents the designs and parameters of coherent microwave power sources in the short-wave part of the millimeter wavelength range using the nonlinear properties of the IMPATT diodes in the radio-pulse conversion mode. This mode makes it possible to provide the output power level of the signal at the n-th harmonic Pout ≈1/n, which significantly exceeds the achieved characteristics of the frequency multipliers with charge accumulation, where Pout ≈ 1/n2. The output power of such devices is achieved at the level of 50–20 mW in the 75–180 GHz frequency range with a frequency multiplication factor of 1–15.

Optimal Design of Large Signal and Noise Performance of GaN/SiC Hetero-Structural IMPATT Diodes Based on QCDD Model

Successes of GaN and SiC electronics in high frequency, large power realm indicate that, the GaN/SiC hetero-structures can be used to design the impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) diodes operating at Terahertz range, of which holds advantages over homo-structural counterparts in lower noise and reduced tunnel current. Here, the (n)GaN/(p)SiC and (p)GaN/(n)SiC double drift region (DDR) IMPATT diodes operating at 0.85 THz are proposed based on the quantum corrected drift-diffusion (QCDD) model, the performance parameters of static state, large signal and noise properties of the studied devices such as peak electric field intensity, breakdown voltage, optimal negative conductance, output power, conversion efficiency, admittance-frequency relation, quality factor, noise electric field, mean-square noise voltage per band-width and noise measure were numerically calculated and analyzed, which can guide to optimize the GaN/SiC IMPATT diodes.

Terahertz Radiators Based on Si~3C-SiC MQW IMPATT Diodes

Aims:: The potentiality of Multiple Quantum Well (MQW) Impacts Avalanche Transit Time (IMPATT) diodes based on Si~3C-SiC heterostructures as possible terahertz radiators have been explored in this paper. Objective:: The static, high frequency and noise performance of MQW devices operating at 94, 140, and 220 GHz atmospheric window frequencies, as well as 0.30 and 0.50 THz frequency bands, have been studied in this paper. Methods: The simulation methods based on a Self-Consistent Quantum Drift-Diffusion (SCQDD) model developed by the authors have been used for the above-mentioned studies. Results: Thus the noise performance of MQW DDRs will be obviously better as compared to the flat Si DDRs operating at different mm-wave and THz frequencies. Conclusion:: Simulation results show that Si~3C-SiC MQW IMPATT sources are capable of providing considerably higher RF power output with the significantly lower noise level at both millimeter-wave (mm-wave) and terahertz (THz) frequency bands as compared to conventional flat Si IMPATT sources.

Simulation on Large Signal and Noise Properties of (n)Si/(p)SiC Heterostructural IMPATT Diodes

Si/SiC heterostructural impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) diode indicates of important applications in Terahertz (THz) power source, integrated circuit etc. In this paper, the (n)Si/(p)4H-SiC, (n)Si/(p)6H-SiC, (n)Si/(p)3C-SiC heterostructural double drift region IMPATT diodes operating at the atmospheric window frequency of 0.85 THz are designed by the drift-diffusion model while their static state, large signal and noise properties are numerically simulated. The performance parameters of the studied devices such as breakdown voltage, peak electric field strength, optimal negative conductance, output power, power conversion efficiency, admittance-frequency relation, quality factor, noise electric field, mean-square noise voltage per band-width and noise measure were calculated and compared. This method can guide for optimizing the Si/SiC heterostructural IMPATT device in the future.

Effect of Tunneling on Small Signal Characteristics of IMPATT Diodes with SiC Heteropolytype Structures

SiC heteropolytype structures indicate important applications in high frequency, large power solid devices etc. In this paper, the impact avalanche transit time (IMPATT) and mixed tunneling avalanche transit time (MITATT) diodes with heteropolytype consisting of two semiconductors among the 3C-SiC, 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC are numerically simulated to investigate the static state and small signal characteristics at the atmospheric window frequency of 1.56 THz. The breakdown voltage, avalanche voltage, peak value of static electric field, the maximum generation rates of avalanche and tunneling, power conversion efficiency, admittance-frequency relation of the proposed SiC heteropolytype diodes are calculated, respectively. Comparing the obtained parameters of IMPATT diodes with those of MITATT devices, the results imply that tunneling shows little influence on the small signal performance of the heteropolytype IMPATT diodes included 3C-SiC material, which is different from those of the homopolytype counterparts.