Nitride Semiconductor Devices - Principles And Simulation

This is the first book to be published on physical principles, mathematical models, and practical simulation of GaN-based devices. Gallium nitride and its related compounds enable the fabrication of highly efficient light-emitting diodes and lasers for a broad spectrum of wavelengths, ranging from red through yellow and green to blue and ultraviolet. Since the breakthrough demonstration of blue laser diodes by Shuji Nakamura in 1995, this field has experienced tremendous growth worldwide. Various applications can be seen in our everyday life, from green traffic lights to full-color outdoor displays to high-definition DVD players. In recent years, nitride device modeling and simulation has gained importance and advanced software tools are emerging. Similar developments occurred in the past with other semiconductors such as silicon, where computer simulation is now an integral part of device development and fabrication.

This book presents a review of modern device concepts and models, written by leading researchers in the field. It is intended for scientists and device engineers who are interested in employing computer simulation for nitride device design and analysis.

Joachim Piprek received his doctorate in physics from Humboldt University Berlin, Germany. He has taught graduate courses at universities in Germany, Sweden, and in the United States. Most recently, he was a professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he collaborated for several years with Shuji Nakamura on nitride device simulation and analysis. Joachim Piprek is currently the director of the NUSOD Institute (www.nusod.org). He has previously published two books and authored more than 100 journal and conference publications in this field.

Preface.

List of Contributors.

Part 1 Material Properties.

1 Introduction (Joachim Piprek).

1.1 A Brief History.

1.2 Unique Material Properties.

1.3 Thermal Parameters.

References.

2 Electron Bandstructure Parameters (Igor Vurgaftman and Jerry R. Meyer).

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Band Structure Models.

2.3 Band Parameters.

2.4 Conclusions.

References.

3 Spontaneous and Piezoelectric Polarization: Basic Theory vs. Practical Recipes (Fabio Bernardini).

3.1 Why Spontaneous Polarization in III-V Nitrides?

3.2 Theoretical Prediction of Polarization Properties in AlN, GaN and InN.

3.3 Piezoelectric and Pyroelectric Effects in III-V Nitrides Nanostructures.

3.4 Polarization Properties in Ternary and Quaternary Alloys.

3.5 Orientational Dependence of Polarization.

References.

4 Transport Parameters for Electrons and Holes (Enrico Bellotti and Francesco Bertazzi).

4.1 Introduction.

4.2 Numerical Simulation Model.

4.3 Analytical Models for the Transport Parameters.

4.4 GaN Transport Parameters.

4.5 AlN Transport Parameters.

4.6 InN Transport Parameters.

4.7 Conclusions.

References.

5 Optical Constants of Bulk Nitrides (Rüdiger Goldhahn, Carsten Buchheim, Pascal Schley, Andreas Theo Winzer, and Hans Wenzel).

5.1 Introduction.

5.2 Dielectric Function and Band Structure.

5.3 Experimental Results.

5.4 Modeling of the Dielectric Function.

References.

6 Intersubband Absorption in AlGaN/GaN Quantum Wells (Sulakshana Gunna, Francesco Bertazzi, Roberto Paiella, and Enrico Bellotti).

6.1 Introduction.

6.2 Theoretical Model.

6.3 Numerical Implementation.

6.4 Absorption Energy in AlGaN-GaN MQWs.

6.5 Conclusions.

References.

7 Interband Transitions in InGaN Quantum Wells (Jörg Hader, Jerome V. Moloney, Angela Thränhardt, and Stephan W. Koch).

7.1 Introduction.

7.2 Theory.

7.3 Theory–Experiment Gain Comparison.

7.4 Absorption/Gain.

7.5 Spontaneous Emission.

7.6 Auger Recombinations.

7.7 Internal Field Effects.

7.8 Summary.

References.

8 Electronic and Optical Properties of GaN-based Quantum Wells with (1010) Crystal Orientation (Seoung-Hwan Park and Shun-Lien Chuang).

8.1 Introduction.

8.2 Theory.

8.2.1 Non-Markovian gain model with many-body effects.

8.3 Results and Discussion.

8.4 Summary.

References.

9 Carrier Scattering in Quantum-Dot Systems (Frank Jahnke).

9.1 Introduction.

9.2 Scattering Due to Carrier–Carrier Coulomb Interaction.

9.3 Scattering Due to Carrier–Phonon Interaction.

9.4 Summary and Outlook.

References.

Part 2 Devices.

10 AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (Tomás Palacios and Umesh K. Mishra).

10.1 Introduction.

10.2 Physics-based Simulations.

10.3 Conclusions.

References.

11 Intersubband Optical Switches for Optical Communications (Nobuo Suzuki).

11.1 Introduction.

11.2 Physics of ISBT in Nitride MQWs.

11.3 Calculation of Absorption Spectra.

11.4 FDTD Simulator for GalGaN ISBT Switches.

References.

12 Intersubband Electroabsorption Modulator (Petter Holmström).

12.1 Introduction.

12.2 Modulator Structure.

12.3 Model.

12.4 Results.

12.5 Summary.

References.

13 Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes (Yen-Kuang Kuo, Sheng-Horng Yen, and Jun-Rong Chen).

13.1 Introduction.

13.2 Device Structure.

13.3 Physical Models and Parameters.

13.4 Comparison Between Simulated and Experimental Results.

13.5 Performance Optimization.

13.6 Conclusion.

References.

14 Visible Light-Emitting Diodes (Sergey Yu. Karpov).

14.1 Introduction.

14.2 Simulation Approach and Materials Properties.

14.3 Device Analysis.

14.4 Novel LED Structures.

14.5 Conclusion.

References.

15 Simulation of LEDs with Phosphorescent Media for the Generation of White Light (Norbert Linder, Dominik Eisert, Frank Jermann, and Dirk Berben).

15.1 Introduction.

15.2 Requirements for a Conversion LED Model.

15.3 Color Metrics for Conversion LEDs.

15.4 Phosphor Model.

15.5 Simulation Examples.

15.6 Conclusions.

References.

16 Fundamental Characteristics of Edge-Emitting Lasers (Gen-ichi Hatakoshi).

16.1 Introduction.

16.2 Basic Equations for the Device Simulation.

16.3 Simulation for Electrical Characteristics and Carrier Overflow Analysis.

16.4 Perpendicular TransverseMode and Beam Quality Analysis.

16.5 Thermal Analysis.

16.6 Conclusions.

References.

17 Resonant Internal Transverse-Mode Coupling in InGaN/GalGaN Lasers (Gennady A. Smolyakov and Marek Osiński).

17.1 Introduction.

17.2 Internal Mode Coupling and the Concept of “Ghost Modes.”

17.3 Device Structure and Material Parameters.

17.4 Calculation Technique.

17.5 Results of Calculations.

17.6 Discussion and Conclusions.

References.

18 Optical Properties of Edge-Emitting Lasers: Measurement and Simulation (Ulrich T. Schwarz and Bernd Witzigmann).

18.1 Introduction.

18.2 Waveguide Mode Stability.

18.3 Optical Waveguide Loss.

18.4 Mode Gain Analysis.

18.5 Conclusion.

References.

19 Electronic Properties of InGaN/GaN Vertical-Cavity Lasers (Joachim Piprek, Zhan-Ming Li, Robert Farrell, Steven P. DenBaars, and Shuji Nakamura).

19.1 Introduction to Vertical-Cavity Lasers.

19.2 GaN-based VCSEL Structure.

19.3 Theoretical Models and Material Parameters.

19.4 Simulation Results and Device Analysis.

19.5 Summary.

References.

20 Optical Design of Vertical-Cavity Lasers (Wlodzimierz Nakwaski, Tomasz Czyszanowski, and Robert P. Sarzala).

20.1 Introduction.

20.2 The GaN VCSEL Structure.

20.3 The Scalar Optical Approach.

20.4 The Vectorial Optical Approach.

20.5 The Self-consistent Calculation Algorithm.

20.6 Simulation Results.

20.7 Discussion and Conclusions.

References.

21 GaN Nanowire Lasers (Alexey V. Maslov and Cun-Zheng Ning).

21.1 Introduction.

21.2 Nanowire Growth and Characterization.

21.3 Nanowire Laser Principles.

21.4 Anisotropy of Material Gain.

21.5 Guided Modes.

21.6 Modal Gain and Threshold.

21.7 Conclusion.

References.

Index.