Static I-V characteristics of static induction transistors

Abstract

The static induction transfer shows the barrier-temperature-limited operation and exhibits vacuum-triode-type output characteristics. The potential profile defining the device characteristics possesses a potential barrier and it rearranges itself due to negative feedback by a change in gate or drain voltage. The nonexistance of a potential barrier leads to space-charge-limited operation of the device. In the former case, current is exponentially related to the applied terminal voltage through the potential barrier, whereas in the latter case, current gives asumptotic dependence proportional to the applied terminal voltage through the amplification factor. The effect of temperature on static characteristics shows that the static induction transistor can be designed with or without the temperature effect on the output characteristics, or the temperature effect can be canceled by the proper choice of the operating conditions.