skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: dc and rf performance of proton-irradiated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1408606· OSTI ID:40277742

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a range of gate lengths (0.8--1.2 {mu}m) and widths (100--200 {mu}m) were exposed to 40 MeV protons at fluences of 5 x 10{sup 9} or 5 x 10{sup 10} cm{sup -2}. The drain--source currents in the devices decreased by 15%--20% at the higher fluence, while the extrinsic transconductance decreased by {approx}30% under the same conditions. Based on the increases in the reverse breakdown voltage and the channel resistance, the main degradation mechanism is believed to be creation of deep trap states in the band gap which remove electrons from the channel. The maximum frequency of oscillation, f{sub MAX}, also decreased as a result of the proton-induced damage, with a change of -20% at the shorter gate widths and -50% at the largest widths. The reverse recovery switching time was essentially unaffected by the irradiation, remaining at {approx}1.6 x 10{sup -8} s. Postradiation annealing at 800 C was successful in restoring the dc and rf performance parameters to {>=}90% of their original values. The AlGaN/GaN HEMTs are much more robust than their AlGaAs/GaAs counterparts to displacement damage and appear well-suited to radiation environment applications.

Sponsoring Organization:
(US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AC85000
OSTI ID:
40277742
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 79, Issue 14; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1408606; Othernumber: APPLAB000079000014002196000001; 009141APL; PBD: 1 Oct 2001; ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher:
The American Physical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Dependence on proton energy of degradation of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors
Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B · OSTI ID:40277742

Effect of proton irradiation on AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor off-state drain breakdown voltage
Journal Article · Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters · OSTI ID:40277742

Degradation mechanisms of 2 MeV proton irradiated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs
Journal Article · Mon Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Applied Physics Letters · OSTI ID:40277742