Physical modeling of direct current and radio frequency characteristics for In P-based InAlAs/InGaAs HEMTs

Direct current(DC) and radio frequency(RF) performances of InP-based high electron mobility transistors(HEMTs)are investigated by Sentaurus TCAD. The physical models including hydrodynamic transport model, Shockley–Read–Hall recombination, Auger recombination, radiative recombination, density gradient model and high field-dependent mobility are used to characterize the devices. The simulated results and measured results about DC and RF performances are compared, showing that they are well matched. However, the slight differences in channel current and pinch-off voltage may be accounted for by the surface defects resulting from oxidized InAlAs material in the gate-recess region. Moreover,the simulated frequency characteristics can be extrapolated beyond the test equipment limitation of 40 GHz, which gives a more accurate maximum oscillation frequency( f_(max)) of 385 GHz.     

Effects of proton irradiation at different incident angles on InAlAs/InGaAs InP-based HEMTs

InP-based high electron mobility transistors(HEMTs) will be affected by protons from different directions in space radiation applications. The proton irradiation effects on InAlAs/InGaAs hetero-junction structures of InP-based HEMTs are studied at incident angles ranging from 0 to 89.9° by SRIM software. With the increase of proton incident angle, the change trend of induced vacancy defects in the InAlAs/InGaAs hetero-junction region is consistent with the vacancy energy loss trend of incident protons. Namely, they both have shown an initial increase, followed by a decrease after incident angle has reached 30°. Besides, the average range and ultimate stopping positions of incident protons shift gradually from buffer layer to hetero-junction region, and then go up to gate metal. Finally, the electrical characteristics of InP-based HEMTs are investigated after proton irradiation at different incident angles by Sentaurus-TCAD. The induced vacancy defects are considered self-consistently through solving Poisson's and current continuity equations. Consequently, the extrinsic transconductance, pinch-off voltage and channel current demonstrate the most serious degradation at the incident angle of 30?, which can be accounted for the most severe carrier sheet density reduction under this condition.