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At least 271 records · Page 15

Flutter calculations for fixed and rotating wings with state-space inflow dynamics

A new p-type, finite-state, aerodynamic theory is used in the aeroelastic analyses of a fixed wing and a rotating wing in hover. The helicopter inflow theory is modified for application to a fixed-wing, or stopped-rotor configuration. The structural models are linear for both configurations, with elastic bending and torsion degrees of freedom. Results are compared with those using Theodorsen and Loewy theories, respectively, for the fixed and rotating wings. With the identification of both structural and nerodynamic modes, the involved frequency content of the flow is seen in a new, more detailed perspective.

Nibbelink, Bruce D.↗

Near-equilibrium growth of thick, high quality beta-SiC by sublimation

A close spaced near-equilibrium growth technique was used to produce thick, high quality epitaxial layers of beta-silicon carbide. The process utilized a sublimation method to grow morphologically smooth layers. The beta silicon carbide growth layers varied from about 200 to 750 microns in thickness. Chemical vapor deposition grown, 2-10 microns, beta silicon carbide films were used as seeds at 1860 and 1910 C growth temperatures. The respective average growth rates were 20 and 30 microns per hour. The layers are p-type with a 3.1 x 10 exp 17/cu cm carrier concentration. Electrical measurements indicate considerable improvement in the breakdown voltage of Schottky barriers on growth samples. Breakdown values ranged from 25 to 60 V. These measurements represent the highest values reported for 3C-SiC.

Shields, Virgil B.↗

Organometallic chemical vapor deposition and characterization of ZnGe(1-x)Si(x)P2-Ge alloys on GaP substrates

In this paper, we report the epitaxial growth of ZnGe(1-x)Si(x)P2-Ge alloys on GaP substrates by open tube OMCVD. The chemical composition of the alloys characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows that alloys with x up to 0.13 can be deposited on (001) GaP. Epitaxial growth with mirror smooth surface morphology has been achieved for x less than or equals to 0.05. Selected area electron diffraction pattern of the alloy shows that the epitaxial layer crystallizes in the chalcopyrite structure with relatively weak superlattice reflections indicating certain degree of randomness in the cation sublattice. Hall measurements show that the alloys are p-type, like the unalloyed films; the carrier concentration, however, dropped about 10 times from 2 x 10 exp 18 to 2 x 10 exp 17/cu cm. Absorption measurements indicate that the band tailing in the absorption spectra of the alloy has been shifted about 0.04 eV towards shorter wavelength as compared to the unalloyed material.

Xing, G. C.↗

Organometallic chemical vapor deposition and characterization of ZnGe(1-x)Si(x)P2-Ge alloys on GaP substrates

The epitaxial growth of ZnGe(1-x)Si(x)P2-Ge alloys on GaP substrates by open tube organometallic chemical vapor deposition (OMCVD) is reported. The chemical composition of the alloys characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows that alloys with x up to 0.13 can be deposited on (001) GaP. Epitaxial growth with mirror smooth surface morphology was achieved for x less than or equal to 0.05. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs of these alloys show specular epitaxy and the absence of microstructural defects indicating a defect density of less than 10(exp 7) cm(sup -2). Selected area electron diffraction pattern of the alloy shows that the epitaxial layer crystallizes in the chalcopyrite structure with relatively weak superlattice reflections indicating certain degree of randomness in the cation sublattice. Hall measurements show that the alloys are p-type, like the unalloyed films; the carrier concentration, however, dropped about 10 times from 2 x 10(exp 18) to 2 x 10(exp 17) cm(sup -3). Absorption measurements indicate that the band tailing in the absorption spectra of the alloy was shifted about 0.04 eV towards shorter wavelength as compared to the unalloyed material. Diodes fabricated from the n(+)-GaP/p-ZnSiP2-ZnGeP2-Ge heterostructure at x = 0.05 have a reverse break-down voltage of -10.8 V and a reverse saturation current density of approximately 6 x 10(exp -8) A/sq cm.

Xing, G. C.↗

Au/Zn Contacts to rho-InP: Electrical and Metallurgical Characteristics and the Relationship Between Them

The metallurgical and electrical behavior of Au/Zn contacting metallization on p-type InP was investigated as a function of the Zn content in the metallization. It was found that ohmic behavior can be achieved with Zn concentrations as small as 0.05 atomic percent Zn. For Zn concentrations between 0.1 and 36 at. percent, the contact resistivity rho(sub c) was found to be independent of the Zn content. For low Zn concentrations the realization of ohmic behavior was found to require the growth of the compound Au2P3 at the metal-InP interface. The magnitude of rho(sub c) is shown to be very sensitive to the growth rate of the interfacial Au2P3 layer. The possibility of exploiting this sensitivity to provide low resistance contacts while avoiding the semiconductor structural damage that is normally attendant to contact formation is discussed.

Weizer, Victor G.↗

Electrical characterization of 6H crystalline silicon carbide

Crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) substrates and epilayers, undoped as well as n- and p-doped, have been electrically characterized by performing Hall effect and resistivity measurements (van der Pauw) over the temperature range of approximately 85 K to 650 K (200 K to 500 K for p-type sample). By fitting the measured temperature dependent carrier concentration data to the single activation energy theoretical model: (1) the activation energy for the nitrogen donor ranged from 0.078 eV to 0.101 eV for a doping concentration range of 10(exp 17) cm(exp -3) to 10(exp 18) cm(exp -3) and (2) the activation energy for the aluminum acceptor was 0.252 eV for a doping concentration of 4.6 x 10(exp 18) cm(exp -3). By fitting the measured temperature dependent carrier concentration data to the double activation energy level theoretical model for the nitrogen donor: (1) the activation energy for the hexagonal site was 0.056 eV and 0.093 eV corresponding to doping concentrations of 3.33 x 10 (exp 17) cm(exp -3) and 1.6 x 10(exp 18) cm(exp -3) and (2) the activation energy for the cubic site was 0.113 and 0.126 eV corresponding to doping concentrations of 4.2 x 10(exp 17) cm(exp -3) and 5.4 x 10(exp 18) cm(exp -3).

Lempner, Stephen E.↗

High-efficiency, deep-junction, epitaxial InP solar cells on (100) and (111)B InP substrates

We report on the development and performance of deep-junction (approximately 0.25 micron), graded-emitter-doped, n(sup +)-p InP solar cells grown by metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). A novel, diffusion-transport process for obtaining lightly-doped p-type base regions of the solar cell is described. The I-V data and external quantum-efficiency response of these cells are presented. The best active-area AMO efficiency for these deep-junction cells on (100)-oriented InP substrates is 16.8 percent, with a J(sub SC) of 31.8 mA/sq cm, a V(sub OC) of 0.843 V, and a fill-factor of 0.85. By comparison, the best cell efficiency on the (111)B-oriented InP substrates was 15.0 percent. These efficiency values for deep-junction cells are encouraging and compare favorably with performance of thin-emitter (0.03 micron) epitaxial cells as well as that of deep-emitter diffused cells. The cell performance and breakdown voltage characteristics of a batch of 20 cells on each of the orientations are presented, indicating the superior breakdown voltage properties and other characteristics of InP cells on the (111)B orientation. Spectral response, dark I-V data, and photoluminescence (PL) measurements on the InP cells are presented with an analysis on the variation in J(sub SC) and V(sub OC) of the cells. It is observed, under open-circuit conditions, that lower-V(sub OC) cells exhibit higher band-edge PL intensity for both the (100) and (111)B orientations. This anomalous behavior suggests that radiative recombination in the heavily-doped n(sup +)-InP emitter may be detrimental to achieving higher V(sub OC) in n(sup +)-p InP solar cells.

Venkatasubramanian, R.↗

Diamond thin film temperature and heat-flux sensors

Diamond film temperature and heat-flux sensors are developed using a technology compatible with silicon integrated circuit processing. The technology involves diamond nucleation, patterning, doping, and metallization. Multi-sensor test chips were designed and fabricated to study the thermistor behavior. The minimum feature size (device width) for 1st and 2nd generation chips are 160 and 5 micron, respectively. The p-type diamond thermistors on the 1st generation test chip show temperature and response time ranges of 80-1270 K and 0.29-25 microseconds, respectively. An array of diamond thermistors, acting as heat flux sensors, was successfully fabricated on an oxidized Si rod with a diameter of 1 cm. Some problems were encountered in the patterning of the Pt/Ti ohmic contacts on the rod, due mainly to the surface roughness of the diamond film. The use of thermistors with a minimum width of 5 micron (to improve the spatial resolution of measurement) resulted in lithographic problems related to surface roughness of diamond films. We improved the mean surface roughness from 124 nm to 30 nm by using an ultra high nucleation density of 10(exp 11)/sq cm. To deposit thermistors with such small dimensions on a curved surface, a new 3-D diamond patterning technique is currently under development. This involves writing a diamond seed pattern directly on the curved surface by a computer-controlled nozzle.

Aslam, M.↗

Growth Of Delta-Doped Layer On Silicon CCD

Response to ultraviolet light enhanced. Back-side-illuminated silicon charge-coupled device fabricated exhibiting nearly 100 percent internal quantum efficiency in near ultraviolet, by using molecular beam epitaxy to grow thin crystalline-silicon layer containing high concentration of boron (p-type dopant). By confining dopant atoms to one or few atomic layers in silicon lattice, concentration-vs.-depth profile made to resemble Dirac delta function, and resulting silicon layer said to be "delta-doped."

Hoenk, Michael E.↗

InP tunnel junction for InGaAs/InP tandem solar cells

Chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) has been shown to allow the growth of high quality materials with reproducible complex compositional and doping profiles. The main advantage of CBE compared to metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), the most popular technique for InP-based photovoltaic device fabrication, is the ability to grow high purity epilayers at much lower temperatures (450-530 C). We have previously shown that CBE is perfectly suited toward the fabrication of complex photovoltaic devices such as InP/InGaAs monolithically integrated tandem solar cells, because its low process temperature preserves the electrical characteristics of the InGaAs tunnel junction commonly used as an ohmic interconnect. In this work using CBE for the fabrication of optically transparent (with respect to the bottom cell) InP tunnel diodes is demonstrated. Epitaxial growth were performed in a Riber CBE 32 system using PH3 and TMIn as III and V precursors. Solid Be (p-type) and Si (n-type) have been used as doping sources, allowing doping levels up to 2 x 10(exp -19)/cu cm and 1 x 10(exp -19)/cu cm for n and p type respectively. The InP tunnel junction characteristics and the influence of the growth's conditions (temperature, growth rate) over its performance have been carefully investigated. InP p(++)/n(++) tunnel junction with peak current densities up to 1600 A/sq cm and maximum specific resistivities (V(sub p)/I(sub p) - peak voltage to peak current ratio) in the range of 10(exp -4) Omega-sq cm were obtained. The obtained peak current densities exceed the highest results previously reported for their lattice matched counterparts, In(0.53)Ga( 0.47)As and should allow the realization of improved minimal absorption losses in the interconnect InP/InGaAs tandem devices for Space applications. Owing to the low process temperature required for the top cell, these devices exhibit almost no degradation of its characteristics after the growth of subsequent thick InP layer suggesting minimal doping cross diffusion in the narrow space-charge region (approximately 1-5 nm) of the device. The fabrication of tandem devices using InP tunnel diodes as interconnect is in progress and will be reported at the conference.

Vilela, M. F.↗

Light emitting diodes as a plant lighting source

Electroluminescence in solid materials is defined as the generation of light by the passage of an electric current through a body of solid material under an applied electric field. A specific type of electroluminescence, first noted in 1923, involves the generation of photons when electrons are passed through a p-n junction of certain solid materials (junction of a n-type semiconductor, an electron donor, and a p-type semiconductor, an electron acceptor). The development of this light emitting semiconductor technology dates back less than 30 years. During this period of time, the LED has evolved from a rare and expensive light generating device to one of the most widely used electronic components. A number of LED characteristics are of considerable importance in selecting a light source for plant lighting in a controlled environment facility. Of particular importance is the characteristic that light is generated by an LED at a rate far greater than the corresponding thermal radiation predicted by the bulk temperature of the device as defined by Plank's radiation law. This is in sharp contrast to other light sources, such as an incandescent or high intensity discharge lamp. A plant lighting system for controlled environments must provide plants with an adequate flux of photosynthetically active radiation, plus providing photons in the spectral regions that are involved in the photomorphogenic and phototropic responses that result in normal plant growth and development. Use of light sources that emit photons over a broad spectral range generally meet these two lighting requirements. Since the LED's emit over specific spectral regions, they must be carefully selected so that the levels of photsynthetically active and photomorphogenic and phototropic radiation meet these plant requirements.

Bula, R. J.↗

Preparation and Thermoelectric Properties of IR(sub x)Co(sub 1-x)Sb(sub 2) Alloys

The preparation and characterization of the binary arsenopyrite compounds CoSb2 and IrSb2 and IrxCo1-xSb2 alloys is reported. Single crystals of CoSb2 were grown by the vertical gradient freeze technique from solution rich in antimony. Polycrystalline samples of IrSb2 and IrxCo1-xSb2 alloys were prepared by hot-pressing of prereacted elemental powders. Samples were investigated by X-ray diffractometry, microprobe analysis and density measurements. It was found that a range of solid solution exist in the system IrxCo1-xSb2 for 0.1<x<0.8. Samples were also characterized by high temperature electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity measurements. All materials have p-type conductivity and are semiconductors. A band gap of about 0.98 eV was calculated for IrSb2. Preliminary measurements of the thermoelectric properties of these materials showed that their potential for thermoelectric applications is limited.

Thermoelectric Properties↗

CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3)Solid Solutions: Preparations and Characterization

The binary antimonide compounds of the skutterudite family have a good potential for thermoelectric applications as recent results at JPL have shown. However, the room temperature thermal conductivity of these materials is about 10 Wm(sup -1)K(sup -1) with an 80 % contribution from the lattice. To achieve maximum ZT values, the lattice thermal conductivity needs to be lowered. Because the lattice thermal conductivity of solid solutions can substantially decrease due to the addition of point defect phonon scattering (all state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials are solid solutions), a study of the formation of solid solutions between the antimonide skutterudite compounds is of interest. The preparation and characterization of both p-type and n-type CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3) solid solutions by several techniques is reviewed in this paper. Experimental results showed that solid solutions were successfully formed in a wide range of compositions. The changes in the thermoelectric properties indicated the influence of a strong point defect scattering, resulting in large decreases in Hall mobility and thermal conductivity. The potential for high ZT values in CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3) solid solutions is discussed.

mobility↗

Strained layer InP/InGaAs quantum well laser

Strained layer single or multiple quantum well lasers include an InP substrate, a pair of lattice-matched InGaAsP quarternary layers epitaxially grown on the substrate surrounding a pair of lattice matched In.sub.0.53 Ga.sub.0.47 As ternary layers surrounding one or more strained active layers of epitaxially grown, lattice-mismatched In.sub.0.75 Ga.sub.0.25 As. The level of strain is selected to control the bandgap energy to produce laser output having a wavelength in the range of 1.6 to 2.5 .mu.m. The multiple quantum well structure uses between each active layer. Diethyl zinc is used for p-type dopant in an InP cladding layer at a concentration level in the range of about 5.times.10.sup.17 /cm.sup.3 to about 2.times.10.sup.18 /cm.sup.3. Hydrogen sulfide is used for n-type dopant in the substrate.

Forouhar, Siamak↗

Front-illuminated CCD with open pinned-phase region and two-phase transfer gate regions

A front-illuminated CCD of relative high quantum efficiency (QE) and high charge transfer efficiency (CTE) utilizes an open-phase region for receiving photons and two-phase gate regions (.phi..sub.1 and .phi..sub.2) for transferring electrons collected in one pixel to the next. The open-phase region is implanted with additional n-type elements (phosphorus) in order to increase the potential of the CCD channel in the open-phase region for collection of electrons and additionally implanted with concentrated and very shallow p-type elements (boron) to pin the surface of the n-channel in the open-phase region to OV, while gate region .phi..sub.1 and .phi..sub.2 are biased to -3.5V and driven to +10V by a two-phase transfer clock. The open pinned-phase (OPP) region thus permits two-phase transfer clocking and optimum reception of photons during the integration periods between transfer clock pulses.

Janesick, James R.↗

Characterization of Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si Heterostructures for Device Applications Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) characterization of several complex Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si heterostructures prepared for device fabrication, including structures for heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBT), p-type and n-type heterostructure modulation doped field effect transistors, has been performed. We have shown that SE can simultaneously determine all active layer thicknesses, Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x) compositions, and the oxide overlayer thickness, with only a general knowledge of the structure topology needed a priori. The characterization of HBT material included the SE analysis of a Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x) layer deeply buried (600 nanometers) under the silicon emitter and cap layers. In the SE analysis of n-type heterostructures, we examined for the first time a silicon layer under tensile strain. We found that an excellent fit can be obtained using optical constants of unstrained silicon to represent the strained silicon conduction layer. We also used SE to measure lateral sample homogeneity, providing quantitative identification of the inhomogeneous layer. Surface overlayers resulting from prior sample processing were also detected and measured quantitatively. These results should allow SE to be used extensively as a non-destructive means of characterizing Si (sub X)Ge (sub 1-x)/Si heterostructures prior to device fabrication and testing.

Sieg, R. M.↗