Self-consistent calculation of tunneling current in w-GaN/AlGaN(0001) two-barrier heterostructures
- Siberian Physicotechnical Institute at the Tomsk State University (Russian Federation), E-mail: shuvalov@phys.tsu.ru
The specific features of the tunneling current in wurtzite GaN/AlGaN(0001) two-barrier structures are studied by solving the Schroedinger equation and the Poisson equation simultaneously, with regard to spontaneous and piezoelectric polarizations. It is shown that the internal fields manifest themselves in the asymmetry of the tunneling current via the value of the electronic charge in the quantum well. This charge is larger when the internal and external fields in the well compensate each other, resulting in smaller shifts of potential and resonance levels in the active region with voltage, in the higher resistance of the structure, and in the linear current-voltage dependence within a wide range of voltages. When the internal and external fields are the same, the current exhibits a sharp negative-differential-conductivity structure, with the peak-to-valley ratio equal to about four. The structure is similar to one of the branches of the current-voltage characteristic of the GaAs/AlGaAs(001) two-barrier structure, suggesting that nitrides are promising materials for resonance-tunneling devices.
- OSTI ID:
- 21088526
- Journal Information:
- Semiconductors, Vol. 40, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1134/S1063782606060121; Copyright (c) 2006 Nauka/Interperiodica; Article Copyright (c) 2006 Pleiades Publishing, Inc; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7826
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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