CARRIER GENERATION AND SWITCHING PHENOMENA IN n—GaAs DEVICES

Abstract
By measuring the steady‐state potential distribution in n—GaAs samples with ohmic contacts, very high electric fields have been found near the anode contacts. In samples with n · L (carrier concentration × sample length) products greater than 1012 cm‐2, switching from the Gunn mode to a high current, lower (constant) voltage state takes place along with the appearance of a high field at the anode. In samples with n · L products less than 1012 cm‐2 the buildup of the high field is accompanied by a sudden increase in current. These high currents are due to carrier generation in a narrow region near the anode.