Effect of a quantizing magnetic field on the capacitance of MOS structures of small-gap semiconductors

An attempt is made to investigate the effect of a quantizing magnetic field on the capacitance of MOS structures of small-gap semiconductors havingn-channel inversion layers under the weak electric-field limit. It is found, takingn-channel InSb as an example, that both the MOS and surface capacitances show spiky oscillations with changing magnetic field. It is further observed that the sharpness and the depths of the spikes increase with increasing magnetic field whereas the depths are found to decrease with increasing thickness of the insulating layer. On leave of absence from the Department of Physics, Patna University, Patna, India     

Theoretical analysis of the oscillatory gate capacitance inn-channel inversion layers on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors under magnetic quantization

An attempt is made to investigate theoretically the gate capacitance inn-channel inversion layers on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors under both weak and strong electric field limits in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field, takingn-channel inversion layers on p-type Cd GaAs₂ as examples. It is found, on the basis of the newly derived 2D electron spectra in inversion layers on the above class of semiconductors, for both weak and strong electric field limits, that the gate capacitances oscillate with the quantizing magnetic field and the crystal field splitting parameter effectively enhances the oscillatory spikes. It has also been observed that the oscillatory behaviour is in qualitative agreement with experimental observation as reported elsewhere for MOS structure of Hg_1–xCd_xTe. In addition, the corresponding results for inversion layers on parabolic semi-conductors are also obtained from the expressions derived.     

On the gate capacitance of mos structures in N-Channel inversion layers on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors

An attempt is made to investigate the gate capacitance of MOS structures in n-channel inversion layers on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors at low temperatures, taking n-channel inversion layers on CdGeAs₂ as examples, under both the weak and strong electric field limits, respectively. We have formulated the gate capacitance on the basis of newly derived 2D electron energy spectra for both the limits by considering the various anisotropies of the band parameters within the framework ofk·p formalism. It has been observed that, the gate capacitance increases with increasing surface electric field in an oscillatory manner and the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental observations as reported elsewhere. In addition, the corresponding well-known results for n-channel inversion layers on isotropic parabolic semiconductors are also obtained from the generalized expressions derived under certain limiting conditions.     

Effect of size quantization on the Einstein relation in ultrathin films of non-parabolic semiconductors

An attempt is made to investigate the effect of size quantization on the diffusivity-mobility ratio of the carriers in ultrathin films of semiconductors having Kane-type nonparabolic energy bands. It is shown, takingn-type InSb as an example, that the ratio oscillates both with increasing film thickness and with increasing carrier concentration under degenerate conditions and remains unaffected otherwise. The corresponding results for parabolic semiconductors are also obtained from the expressions derived.     

On the oscillatory nature of the Debye screening length in degenerate semiconductors under magnetic quantization

The nature of the magnetic field dependence of the Debye screening length in degenerate semiconductors is shown to be oscillatory under the influence of magnetic quantization.     

The effect of photoelectrochemical etching on the performance of CdS based photoelectrochemical cells

A photoelectrochemical etching technique which was formerly used to improve the performance of CdSe¹ and Cd(Se, Te)² based photoelectrochemical cells (PEC's) was further used to improve the short-circuit current and the fill factor of CdS based PEC's. It is suggested that this method can be used to improve photovoltaic cells having CdS as one of their components.     

The thermoelectric power in superlattices of III–V semiconductors with graded structures under strong magnetic quantization

Summary An attempt is made to formulate the thermoelectric power under strong magnetic quantization (TPM) in superlattices (SLS) of III–V semiconductors with graded structures and to compare the same with that of the forming materials. It is found, taking Ga_0.8In_0.14P_0.78Sb_0.22/GaAs SL as an example, that the TPM increases with increasing quantizing magnetic field and decreases with increasing electron concentration respectively in an oscillatory manner. The TPM in SL with graded structures is greater than that of the constituent bulk materials for III–V SL.     

Oscillatory effective mass in degenerate narrow-gap semiconductors in a quantizing magnetic field

An attempt is made to study the effect of a quantizing magnetic field on the effective electron mass in degeneraten-type narrow-gap semiconductors at low temperatures. It is found, takingn-Hg_1−x Cd _x Te as an example, that the effective electron mass shows an oscillatory magnetic-field dependence as is expected because of the dependence of the effective mass in degenerate non-parabolic bands on Fermi energy which oscillates with changing magnetic field. The amplitude of oscillations is, however, found to be significantly influenced by the alloy composition whereas the period is found to be independent of the band non-parabolicity, i.e. of the compositional parameter in ternary semiconductors.     

On the gate-controlled surface capacitance of MOS structures of Si having n-channel inversion layers

An attempt is made to work out a simple theory of gate-controlled MOS capacitance based on the triangular potential-well approximation. The predicted dependence of the capacitance on gate voltage is in excellent qualitative agreement with the recent experimental observation reported elsewhere.On leave of absence fromthe Dept. of Physics, University of Patna, Patna, India.     

Thermoelectric power in superlattices of nonparabolic semiconductors with graded interfaces under magnetic quantization

Summary We study the thermoelectric power of the electrons under magnetic quantization in III–V, II–VI, PbTe/PbSnTe and strained layer superlattices with graded interfaces and compare the same with the corresponding bulk specimens of the constituent materials by formulating the respective expressions incorporating the broadening. It is found, by taking GaAs/Ga_1−x Al _x As, CdS/CdTe, PbTe/PbSnTe and InAs/GaSb superlattices with graded interfaces as examples, that the thermoelectric power exhibits oscillatory dependence with the inverse quantizing magnetic field due to Shubnikov-de Hass effect and increases with decreasing electron concentration in an oscillatory manner in all the aforementioned cases. The thermopower in graded superlattices is greater than that of constituent bulk materials together with the fact that the oscillations in superlattices show up much more significantly as compared to the respective constituent materials. In addition, the well-known expressions for bulk specimens of wide-gap semiconductors have also been obtained as special cases from our generalized expressions under certain limiting conditions.     

An investigation of the Al2O3-CdSe interface in accumulation

The Al₂O₃−CdSe interface of a thin-film transistor is investigated in the frequency range 30 Hz-30 kHz under weak depletion and accumulation. The surface states are, most likely, located in the insulator Al₂O₃ with a concentration varying from 4·10¹⁸ to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³ eV⁻¹. The surface states have a negligible influence on the thin-film transistor operation.     

Excess capacitance of ZnO-Au varactors

Doped ZnO single crystals were deposited with gold and indium in 1×10^–8 Torr vacuum. The lithium-doped ZnO single crystals and the gold interface revealed not only a Schottky diode but also varactor characteristics. TheI-V andC-V characteristics of ZnO:Li-Au devices were determined in the 0–140 mV and 0–1.5 V ranges.The frequency dependence of ZnO:Li-Au varactors was investigated in the 6–550 kHz range and the value of the most efficient varactor frequency was found to be 50 kHz for the lithium-doped samples prepared.To bring further insight into the matter the concept of excess capacitance was introduced and 1/C ²=f(–V) curves were rearranged between 0–150 mV where Schottky characteristics are non-linear. The excess capacitance values of lithium-doped varactors were determined at four different frequencies and ranged from 26 pF at 50 kHz to 70 pF at 6kHz.Finally, the bulk donor concentrations of the single crystals were calculated from the modifiedC-V curves to beN _D= 3×10²⁰ m^–3. On the other hand, the bulk donor concentration determined from the non-modifiedC-V curves wasN _D=1.02×10²² m^–3.     

Theoretical analysis of the gate capacitance inn-channel inversion layers on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field

An attempt is made to study theoretically, the dependence of the gate capacitance inn-channel inversion larges on ternary chalcopyrite semiconductors on a quantizing magnetic field, takingn-channel inversion layers on CdGeAs₂ as an example. It is found, on the basis of a newly derived electron energy spectrum of the above class of semiconductors, that the gate capacitance exhibits spiky oscillations with changing magnetic field and the oscillatory behaviour is in qualitative agreement with the experimental observation reported in the literature for the MOS structure of Hg_1–x Cd _x Te.     

Effect of magnetic quantization on the Einstein relation in Kane-type semiconductors

An attempt is made to formulate the Einstein relation for the diffusivity-mobility ratio of the carriers in degenerate semiconductors having Kane-type energy bands in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field, taking degenerate n-InAs as an example. It is found on the basis of the three-band Kane model, which is the most valid model for n-InAs, that the same ratio oscillates with changing magnetic field only under degenerate conditions and remains unaffected otherwise. The corresponding results for parabolic semiconductors are also obtained from the expressions derived.     

Effect of temperature on the validity of the einstein relation in heavily doped semiconductors

An analytical expression of the modified form of the Einstein relation in heavily doped semiconductors in which Gaussian band tails are formed near the lower limit of heavy doping is derived for studying the temperature dependence of the diffusivity-mobility ratio of the carriers in such semiconductors. It is found that, with increasing temperature from relatively low values, the ratio first increases in a nonlinear manner and then decreases till, at high temperatures, it approaches its value corresponding to the non-degenerate condition resulting in a peak over a narrow range of temperatures.     

Effect of oxide thickness on the capacitance and conductance characteristics of MOS structures

In this work, the investigation of the interface states density and series resistance from capacitance–voltage (C–V) and conductance–voltage (G–V) characteristics in Au/SnO₂/n-Si (MOS) structures prepared at various SnO₂ layer thicknesses by spray deposition technique have been reported. It is fabricated five samples depending on deposition time. The thicknesses of SnO₂ films obtained from the measurement of the oxide capacitance in the strong accumulation region for MOS Schottky diodes are 37, 79, 274, 401, and 446 Å, for D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5 samples, respectively. The C–V and G–V measurements of Au/SnO₂/n-Si MOS structures are performed in the voltage range from −6 to +10 V and the frequency range from 500 Hz to 10 MHz at room temperature. It is observed that peaks in the forward C–V characteristics appeared because of the series resistance. It has been seen that the value of the series resistance R_s of samples D1 (47 Ω), D2 (64 Ω), D3 (98 Ω), D4 (151 Ω), and D5 (163 Ω) increases with increasing the oxide layer thickness. The interface state density D_it ranges from 2.40×10¹³ cm⁻² eV⁻¹ for D1 sample to 2.73×10¹² cm⁻² eV⁻¹ for D5 sample and increases with increasing the oxide layer thickness.     

Influence of magnetic quantization on the effective electron mass in Kane-type semiconductors

Summary We study the effective electron mass at the Fermi level in Kane-type semiconductors on the basis of fourth order in effective mass theory and taking into account the interactions of the conduction electrons, heavy holes, light holes and split-off holes, respectively. The results obtained are then compared to those derived on the basis of the well-known three-band Kane model. It is found, takingn-Hg_1−x Cd _x Te as an example, that the effective electron mass at the Fermi level in accordance with fourth-order model depends on the Fermi energy, magnetic quantum number and the electron spin respectively due to the influence of band nonparabolicity only. The dependence of effective mass on electron spin is due to spin-orbit splitting parameter of the valence band in three-band Kane model and the Fermi energy due to band nonparabolicity in two-band Kane model. The same mass exhibits an oscillatory magnetic-field dependence for all the band models as expected since the origin of oscillations in the effective mass in nonparabolic compounds is the same as that of the Shubnikov-de Hass oscillations. In addition, the corresponding results for parabolic energy bands have been obtained from the generalized expressions under certain limiting conditions.     

The effect of random dopant fluctuations on the minimum channel length of short-channel MOS transistors

Received: 20 August 1996/Accepted: 27 November 1996     

A simplified analysis of the electronic contribution to the elastic constants in ultrathin films of stressed semiconductors under magnetic quantization

An attempt is made to study the electronic contribution to the second- and third-order elastic constants in ultrathin films of strained semiconductors under magnetic quantization in the presence of broadening on the basis of a newly formulated electron dispersion law. It is found, taking stressed n-InSb as an example, that the carrier contribution to the second- and third-order elastic constants oscillates with increasing carrier degeneracy and decreasing film thickness, respectively, in different manners and the stress enhances their numerical values. A relationship between the said contributions and the thermoelectric power has been derived for quantum confined semiconductors having arbitrary dispersion laws and our analysis agrees quite well with the suggested relationship.     

On geometric quantization of the Dirac magnetic monopole

We give a simple derivation of the spectrum of the Dirac magnetic monopole on a unit sphere S² based on geometric quantization and the Frobenius reciprocity formula. The starting point is the calculation by Novikov and Schmelzer of the canonical symplectic structure on the coadjoint orbits of the isometry group of 3-dimensional Euclidean space E(3), which showed the appearance of the Dirac magnetic term.