Design considerations for high performance avalanche photodiodemultiplication layers

We have studied the effect of the thickness of the multiplication region on the noise performance characteristics of avalanche photodiodes (APD's). Our simulation results are based on a full band Monte Carlo model with anisotropic threshold energies for impact ionization. Simulation results suggest that the well known McIntyre expression for the excess noise factor is not directly applicable for devices with a very thin multiplication region. Since the number of ionization events is drastically reduced when the multiplication layer is very thin, the “ionization coefficient” is not a good physical parameter to characterize the process. Instead “effective quantum yield,” which is a measure of the total electron-hole pair generation in the device, is a more appropriate parameter to consider. We also show that for the device structure considered here, modeling the excess noise factor using a “discrete Bernoulli trial” model as opposed to the conventional “continuum theory” produces closer agreement to experimental measurements. Our results reinforce the understanding that impact ionization is a strong function of carrier energy and the use of simplified field-dependent models to characterize this high energy process fails to accurately model this phenomenon     

Experimental determination of electron and hole mobilities in MOSaccumulation layers

This letter presents for the first time, the experimentally determined majority carrier mobilities in the accumulation layer of a MOSFET for both p-type and n-type channel doping for a wide range of doping concentrations. The measured carrier mobility is observed to follow a universal behavior at high transverse fields, similar to that observed for minority carriers in MOS inversion layers. At the higher doping levels, the effective mobility for majority carriers at low to moderate transverse fields is found to be very close to the bulk mobility. This is believed to be due to carrier screening of the ionized impurity scattering which dominates at the higher doping concentrations     

Parametric study on smoothed particle hydrodynamics for accurate determination of drag coefficient for a circular cylinder

Simulations of two-dimensional (2D) flow past a circular cylinder with the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method were conducted in order to accurately determine the drag coefficient. The fluid was modeled as a viscous liquid with weak compressibility. Boundary conditions, such as a no-slip solid wall, inflow and outflow, and periodic boundaries, were employed to resemble the physical problem. A sensitivity analysis, which has been rarely addressed in previous studies, was conducted on several SPH parameters. Hence, the effects of distinct parameters, such as the kernel choices and the domain dimensions, were investigated with the goal of obtaining highly accurate results. A range of Reynolds numbers (1–500) was simulated, and the results were compared with existing experimental data. It was observed that the domain dimensions and the resolution of SPH particles, in comparison to the obstacle size, affected the obtained drag coefficient significantly. Other parameters, such as the background pressure, influenced the transient condition, but did not influence the steady state at which the drag coefficient was determined.     

Numerical aspects of a Godunov-type stabilization scheme for the Boltzmann transport equation

Journal of Computational Electronics - We discuss the numerical aspects of the Boltzmann transport equation (BE) for electrons in semiconductor devices, which is stabilized by Godunov’s...     

Wave propagation in functionally graded nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes based on second-order shear deformation theory

In the present article, as a first endeavor, the wave propagation in functionally graded nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes is investigated on the basis of second-order shear deformation theory. Four different types of functionally graded nanocomposites are presented. An analytical method is used to find the circular frequencies and phase velocities. To show the accuracy of the present methodology, our results for the free vibration are compared with the results of functionally graded plates available in the literature. The influences of different parameters are also investigated on the circular frequencies and phase velocities.     

The relative performance of alternative oxygen carriers for liquid chemical looping combustion and gasification

The relative performance of different potential liquid oxygen carriers within a novel system that can be configured for either chemical looping gasification or combustion is assessed. The parameters considered here are the melting temperature, the Gibbs free energy, reaction enthalpy, exergy and energy flows, syngas quality and temperature difference between the two reactors. Results show that lead, copper and antimony oxides are meritorious candidates for the proposed systems. Antimony oxide was found to offer strong potential for high quality syngas production because it has a reasonable oxygen mass ratio for gasification. A sufficiently low operating temperature to be compatible with concentrated solar thermal energy and a propensity to generate methane. In contrast, copper and lead oxides offer greater potential for liquid chemical looping combustion because they have higher oxygen mass ratio and a higher operating temperature, which enables better efficiency from a power plant. For all three metal oxides, the production of methane via the undesirable methanation reaction is less than 2% of the product gasses for all operating temperatures and an order of magnitude lower for lead.     

Tough,strong, hard,and chemically durable enstatite-zirconia glass-ceramic

Strong glass-ceramics (GCs) have been envisaged and widely researched for various applications, including large architectural panels, ballistic impact protection, bioactive medical implants, and odontological prostheses. Here, we report on the development and characterization of a novel hard, strong and tough enstatite-zirconia (MgSiO₃-ZrO₂) glass-ceramic derived from a 51SiO₂–35MgO–6Na₂O–4ZrO₂–4TiO₂ (mol%) glass. The best GC was developed by treating glass samples for nucleation at 700°C for 12 hours, followed by crystal growth at 1090°C for 3 minutes. It was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and contained plate-like enstatite, zirconia, and Ti-containing crystals. We investigated the nucleating ability of ZrO₂ and TiO₂ in inducing internal nucleation. In the early stage of crystallization, enstatite spherulites were observed, which were precipitated by heterogeneous nucleation on previously nucleated ZrO₂ nano-crystals. At more advanced stages, at high temperatures, they transformed into plate-like crystals. The ball-on-three-balls strength, elastic modulus, and Vickers micro-hardness of the GC are 323 ± 26 MPa, 146 ± 13 GPa, and 6.9 ± 0.1 GPa (load = 5N), respectively. The indentation (K_C), single-edge notched beam bending (K_IC), and crack tip (K_tip) fracture toughness are 2.8 ± 0.6 MP.m^0.5, 2.2 ± 0.3 MP.m^0.5, 1.9 ± 0.3 MP.m^0.5, respectively. The crack propagation profile after a controlled Vickers indentation was quite intricate. The enstatite and zirconia crystals enhanced crack deflection, bridging and branching, hindering crack propagation. According to the ISO 6872 for dental materials, the chemical solubility of our GC is 80 ± 5 μg/cm². Due to this positive combination of high strength, toughness, hardness, and chemical durability, this new glass-ceramic is envisioned as a candidate for several applications and could be further developed for memory disc substrates, architectural cladding and tiles, ceramic glazes, and dental materials.     

A critical review of bioceramics for magnetic hyperthermia

Magnetic hyperthermia (HT) using biocompatible ceramics is a ground-breaking, competent, and safe thermo-therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The magnetic properties of bioceramics, along with their structure and synthesis parameters, are responsible for the controlled heating of malignant tumors and are the key to clinical success. After providing a brief overview of magnetism and its significance in biomedicine, this review deals with materials selection and synthesis methods of bioceramics/glasses used for HT. Relevant research carried out on promising bioceramics for magnetic HT, with a focus on their size, shape, surface functionalization, magnetic field parameters, and in vitro/in vivo properties to optimize cancer therapy, is also discussed. Recent progress in magnetic HT combined with chemotherapy and phototherapy is especially highlighted, with the aim to provide interdisciplinary knowledge to advance further the applications of bioceramics in this field.     

Impedance switching effects in GaAs/AlAs barrier structures

AlAs tunnel barriers in MBE-grown GaAs layers have been studied using pulsed and continuous I/V and swept temperature/capacitance measurements. Such layers demonstrate an impedance switching phenomenon which is persistent and repeatable. This impedance switching is manifested by the device as two distinct impedance modes: a high-impedance mode (of the order of 10k? at DC for a 0.3 mm dot), and a low-impedance mode (of the order of 10?). Such a phenomenon may restrict the operation of some devices, but may lead to other novel applications.     

Kinetic study of H-terminated silicon nanowires oxidation in very first stages

Oxidation of silicon nanowires (Si NWs) is an undesirable phenomenon that has a detrimental effect on their electronic properties. To prevent oxidation of Si NWs, a deeper understanding of the oxidation reaction kinetics is necessary. In the current work, we study the oxidation kinetics of hydrogen-terminated Si NWs (H-Si NWs) as the starting surfaces for molecular functionalization of Si surfaces. H-Si NWs of 85-nm average diameter were annealed at various temperatures from 50°C to 400°C, in short-time spans ranging from 5 to 60 min. At high temperatures (T ≥ 200°C), oxidation was found to be dominated by the oxide growth site formation (made up of silicon suboxides) and subsequent silicon oxide self-limitation. Si-Si backbond oxidation and Si-H surface bond propagation dominated the process at lower temperatures (T < 200°C).