Resonant interband tunnel diodes

Abstract

Novel device structures are proposed, incorporating quantum wells and a pn diode structure. Such a device combines the structure and behavior of both resonant tunneling diodes and conventional tunnel diodes, leading to high speed and low excess current. There is interband tunneling between the conduction band and the valence band, as is in the case for a tunnel diode, but carriers are confined within quantum wells. Under small forward bias the diodes are expected to behave in a manner very similar to that of a tunnel diode formed of bulk material. Under large forward bias, however, the devices act much like resonant tunneling diodes, and display additional negative resistance regions.