Radiation response of optically-triggered GaAs thyristors

Conference · Thu Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1989 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/23.45417· OSTI ID:7004288

Carson, R F; Hughes, R C; Zipperian, T E; Weaver, H T; Brennan, T M; Hammons, B E; Klem, J F ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab., Albuquerque, NM (US)

This paper reports the development of gallium arsenide optically-triggered thyristors that exhibit tolerance to high x-ray dose rates. These two-terminal epitaxial devices feature breakover voltages of 18 V to 38 V with no radiation. They trigger at less than 2 volts with only tenths of mW of laser light, but do not trigger at 2 {times} 10{sup 9} Rad(Si)/s with a bias level as much as 40 to 60 percent of the zero-radiation breakover voltage. When these devices are bombarded with neutrons, the reduced carrier lifetimes result in a decreased sensitivity to triggering by light and ionizing radiation.

• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 7004288
• Report Number(s): CONF-890723--
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA), Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers); (USA) Vol. 36:6; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360605* -- Materials-- Radiation Effects
440200 -- Radiation Effects on Instrument Components
Instruments
or Electronic Systems
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
654003 -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Neutron Interactions with Matter
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
BARYONS
CARRIER LIFETIME
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EPITAXY
FABRICATION
FERMIONS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HADRONS
HARDENING
INTERACTIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LIFETIME
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PNICTIDES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION HARDENING
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
THYRISTORS
VISIBLE RADIATION
X RADIATION