Avalanche Characteristics of AlxGa1-xN Avalanche Photodiodes

Authors

  • Tat Lung Wesley Ooi Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia
  • Pei Ling Cheang Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia
  • Ah Heng You Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia
  • Yee Kit Chan Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Keywords:

Aluminium Gallium Nitride (AlGaN), avalanche photodiode, impact ionization, multiplication gain, excess noise factor

Abstract

AlGaN APDs are ultra-wide-bandgap semiconductor which has great potential, especially UV detection. In this work, Monte Carlo model has been developed to simulate the avalanche characteristics of thin AlxGa1-xN APDs with random ionization path lengths incorporating dead space effect in a wide range of x value. Holes dominate the impact ionization at higher field for Al0.3Ga0.7N, whereas electrons dominate the impact ionization for Al0.7Ga0.3N. Al0.3Ga0.7N also has higher electron and hole ionization coefficients compared to Al0.7Ga0.3N. Hole-initiated multiplication leads the mean multiplication gain for Al0.3Ga0.7N APDs, while electron-initiated multiplication leads the mean multiplication gain for l0.7Ga0.3N APDs. The breakdown voltage and excess noise at fixed mean multiplication gain of 10 and 20 are then compared. The breakdown voltage increases as the Al content increases. The excess noise of hole-initiated multiplication is the lowest at x ≈ 0.4 while excess noise of electron-initiated multiplication is lowest at x = 0.7. This shows that the ideal Al content is at x ≈ 0.4 as the excess noise is low with manageable breakdown voltage as excess noise for hole-initiated multiplication decreases as x approaching 0.4.

Author Biographies

Tat Lung Wesley Ooi, Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Postgraduate, Masters, Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Pei Ling Cheang, Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Ah Heng You, Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Faculty of Engineering and Technology

Yee Kit Chan, Multimedia University (MMU), Malaysia

Faculty of Engineering and Technology

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Published

2021-06-28

How to Cite

Ooi, T. L. W., Cheang, P. L., You, A. H., & Chan, Y. K. (2021). Avalanche Characteristics of AlxGa1-xN Avalanche Photodiodes. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering (JTEC), 13(2), 1–7. Retrieved from https://jtec.utem.edu.my/jtec/article/view/6030