Spin-polarized current produced by a double barrier resonant tunneling diode

The spin-polarized tunneling current through a double barrier resonant tunneling diode (RTD) made with a semimagnetic semiconductor is studied theoretically. The calculated spin-polarized current and polarization degree are in agreement with recent experimental results. It is predicted that the polarization degree can be modulated continuously from + 1 to - 1 by changing the external voltage such that the quasi-confined spin-up and spin-down energy levels shift downwards from the Fermi level to the bottom of the conduction band. The RTD with low potential barrier or the tunneling through the second quasi-confined state produces larger spin-polarized current. Furthermore a higher magnetic field enhances the polarization degree of the tunneling current. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The structure and current-voltage characteristics of multi-sheet InGaN quantum dots grown by a new multi-step method

Multi-sheet InGaN/GaN quantum dots (QDs) were grown successfully by surface passivation processing and low-temperature growth in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition. This method based on the principle of increasing the energy barrier of adatom hopping by surface passivation and low-temperature growth, is quite different from present methods. The InGaN quantum dots in the first layer of about 40-nm-wide and 15-nm-high grown by this method were revealed by atomic force microscopy. The InGaN QDs in upper layer grew bigger. To our knowledge, the current-voltage characteristics of multi-sheet InGaN/GaN QDs were measured for the fist time. Two kinds of resonance-tunneling-current features were observed which were attributed to the low-dimensional localization effect. Some current peaks only appeared in positive voltage for sample due to the non-uniformity of the QDs in the structure. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Current-induced migration of surface adatoms during GaN growth by molecular beam epitaxy

The influence of electric fields on surface migration of Gallium (Ga) and Nitrogen (N) adatoms is studied during GaN growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). When a direct current (DC) is used to heat the sample, long distance migration of Ga adatoms and diffusion asymmetry of N adatoms at steps are observed. On the other hand, if an alternating current (AC) is used, no such preferential adatom migration is found. This effect is attributed to the effective positive charges of surface adatoms. representing an effect of electro-migration. The implications of such current-induced surface migration to GaN epitaxy are subsequently investigated. It is seen to firstly change the distribution of Ga adatoms on a growing surface, and thus make the growth to be Ga-limited at one side of the sample but N-limited at the other side. This leads to different optical qualities of the film and different morphologies of the surface. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Analysis of the temperature-induced transition to current self-oscillations in doped GaAs/AlAs superlattices

We observed the decrease of the hysteresis effect and the transition from the stable to the dynamic domain regime in doped superlattices with increasing temperature. The current-voltage characteristics and the behaviours of the domain boundary are dominated by the temperature-dependent lineshape of the electric field dependence of the drift velocity (V(F)), As the peak-valley ratio in the V(F) curve decreases with increasing temperature, the hysteresis will diminish and temporal current self-oscillations will occur. The simulated calculation, which takes the difference in V(F) curves into consideration, gives a good agreement with the experimental results.

Studies of high DC current induced degradation in III-V nitride based heterojunctions

We report experiments on high de current stressing in commercial III-V nitride based heterojunction light-emitting diodes. Stressing currents ranging from 100 mA to 200 mA were used. Degradations in the device properties were investigated through detailed studies of the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, electroluminescence, deep-level transient Fourier spectroscopy and flicker noise. Our experimental data demonstrated significant distortions in the I-V characteristics subsequent to electrical stressing. The room temperature electro-luminescence of the devices exhibited a 25% decrement in the peak emission intensity. Concentration of the deep-levels was examined by deep-level transient Fourier spectroscopy, which indicated an increase in the density of deep-traps from 2.7 x 10(13) cm(-3) to 4.2 x 10(13) cm(-3) at E-1 = E-C - 1.1 eV. The result is consistent with our study of 1/f noise, which exhibited up to three orders of magnitude increase in the voltage noise power spectra. These traps are typically located at energy levels beyond the range that can be characterized by conventional techniques including DLTS. The two experiments, therefore, provide a more complete picture of trap generation due to high dc current stressing.

Anomaly of the current self-oscillation frequency in the sequential tunneling of a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice

An anomalous behavior of the current self-oscillation frequency is observed in the dynamic de voltage bands, emerging from each sawtoothlike branch of the current-voltage characteristic of a doped GaAs/A1As superlattice in the transition process from static to dynamic electric field domain formations. Varying the applied de voltage at a fixed temperature, we find that the frequency increases while the averaged current decreases. Inside each voltage band, the frequency has a strong voltage dependence in the temperature range where the averaged current changes with the applied de voltage. This dependence can be understood in terms of motion of the system along a limit cycle.

Self-aligned current aperture in native oxidized AlInAs buried heterostructure InGaAsP/InP distributed feedback laser

A InGaAsP/InP self-aligned, native oxidized buried heterostructure (BH) distributed feedback (DFB) laser is proposed. It is as easy to process as the ridge waveguide DFB laser and has superior performance. The current aperture can be easily controlled without selective regrowth. The laser exhibits a low threshold of 5.0 mA with 36 dB side mode suppression ratio at the emission wavelength of 1.562 mu m. It emits in a single lobe with full width at half maximum angles of 33.6 degrees and 42.6 degrees for the lateral and vertical fields, respectively. Its beam is more circular than that of the as-grown BH laser because the lower refractive index of oxide compared to the as-grown layer and results in a larger lateral optical confinement. Its characteristic temperature (T-0) is 50 K at room temperature but increases in value at the higher temperature range. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)00812-3].

Dynamic dc voltage band observed within each current branch in the transition from static to dynamic electric-field domain formation in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice

A dynamic dc voltage band was found emerging from each sawtooth-like branch of the current-voltage characteristics of a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice in the transition process from static to dynamic electric-field domain formation caused by increasing the sample temperature. As the temperature increases, these dynamic dc voltage bands expand within each sawtooth-like branch, squeeze out the static regions, and join up together to turn the whole plateau into dynamic electric-field domain formation. These results are well explained by a general analysis of stability of the sequential tunneling current in superlattices. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)04443-5].

Negative differential resistance and the transition to current self-oscillation in GaAs/AlAs superlattices

We investigate the transition from static to dynamic electric field domains (EFDs) in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice (SL). We show that a transverse magnetic field and/or the temperature can induce current self-oscillations. This observation can be attributed to the negative differential resistance (NDR) effect. Transverse magnetic field and the temperature can increase the NDR of a doped SL. A large NDR can lead to an unstable EFD in a certain range of d.c. bias. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Current self-oscillation induced by a transverse magnetic field in a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice

We investigate the influence of a transverse magnetic field on the current-voltage characteristics of a doped GaAs/AlAs superlattice at 1.6 K. The current transport regimes-stable electric field domain formation and current selfoscillation-are observed with increasing transverse magnetic field up to 13 T. Magnetic-field-induced redistribution of electron momentum and energy is identified as the mechanism triggering the switching over of one process to another lending to a change in the dependence of the effective electron drift velocity on electric field. Simulation yields excellent agreement with observed results.

Influence of crystal perfection on the reverse leakage current of the SiGe Si p-n heterojunction diodes

Double-crystal X-ray diffraction and I-V characterization have been carried out on the GSMBE grown SiGe/Si p-n heterojunction materials. Results show that the SiGe alloys crystalline quality and the misfit dislocations are critical influences on the reverse leakage current. The crystal perfection and/or the degree of metastability of the Sice alloys have been estimated in terms of the model proposed by Tsao with the experimental results. High-quality p-n heterojunction diodes can be obtained by optimizing the SiGe alloy structures, which limit the alloys in the metastable states. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Buried heterostructure InGaAsP/InP strain-compensated multiple quantum well laser with a native-oxidized InAlAs current blocking layer

An InAlAs native oxide is used to replace the p-n reverse-biased junction in a conventional buried heterostructure InP-based laser. This technique reduces the number of regrowth steps and eliminates leakage current under high-temperature operation. The InAlAs native oxide buried heterostructure (NOBH) laser with strain-compensated InGaAsP/InP multiple quantum well active layers has a threshold current of 5.6 mA, a slope efficiency of 0.23 mW/mA, and a linear power up to 22.5 mW with a HR-coated facet. It exhibits single transverse mode with lasing wavelength at 1.532 mu m. A characteristic temperature (T-0) of 50 K is obtained from the NOBH laser with a nonoptimized oxide layer width. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)01352-7].

Suppression of sequential tunneling current by a perpendicular magnetic field in a three-barrier, two-well heterostructure

When an intersubband relaxation is involved in vertical transport in a tunneling heterostructure, the magnetic suppression of the intersubband LO or LA phonon scattering may also give rise to a noticeable depression of the resonant tunneling current, unrelated to the Coulomb correlation effect. The slowdown of the intersubband scattering rate makes fewer electrons able to tunnel resonantly between two adjacent quantum wells (QWs) in a three-barrier, two-well heterostructure. The influence of the magnetic field on the intersubband relaxation can be studied in an explicit way by a physical model based on the dynamics of carrier populations in the ground and excited subbands of the incident QW. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)00925-5].

Theoretical investigation on quantum well lasers with extremely low vertical beam divergence and low threshold current

A specially designed quantum well laser for achieving extremely low vertical beam divergence was reported and theoretically investigated. The laser structure was characterized by two low index layers inserted between the waveguide layers and the cladding layers. The additional layers were intended to achieve wide optical spread in the cladding layers and strong confinement in the active region. This enabled significant reduction of beam divergence with no sacrifice in threshold current density. The numerical results showed that lasers with extremely low vertical beam divergence from 20 degrees down to 11 degrees and threshold current density of less than 131 A/cm(2) can be easily achieved by optimization of the structure parameters. Influences of individual key structure parameters on beam divergence and threshold current density are analyzed. Attention is also paid to the minimum cladding layer thicknesses needed to maintain low threshold current densities and low internal loss. The near and far field patterns are given and discussed. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Observation of photogalvanic current for interband absorption in InN films at room temperature

The linear and circular photogalvanic effects have been observed in undoped InN films for the interband transition by irradiation of 1060 nm laser at room temperature. The spin polarized photocurrent depends on the degree of polarization, and changes its sip when the radiation helicity changes from left-handed to right-handed. This result indicates the sizeable spin-orbit interaction in the InN epitaxial layer and provides an effective method to generate spin polarized photocurrent and to detect spin-splitting effect in semiconductors with promising applications on spintronics.