Investigation of the temperature and electric field dependence of a GaAs microwave photoconductive switch

Stephen E. Saddow; Bruno J. Thedrez; Sheng-Lung L. Huang; Timothy J. Mermagen; Chi Hsiang Lee

doi:10.1117/12.146555

9 June 1993 Investigation of the temperature and electric field dependence of a GaAs microwave photoconductive switch

Stephen E. Saddow, Bruno J. Thedrez, Sheng-Lung L. Huang, Timothy J. Mermagen, Chi Hsiang Lee

Proceedings Volume 1873, Optically Activated Switching III; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.146555
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The on-resistance of a GaAs coplanar waveguide-photoconductive switch was characterized as a function of laser photon energy, switch temperature, and applied dc electric field. An electric-field-dependent resonance at photon energies near the GaAs energy band-gap edge has been observed. This resonant behavior is believed to be caused by a competition between carrier recombination in the switch bulk and carrier sweep-out effects near the switch surface. This field-induced resonance was verified with 5, 10 and 20 micrometers switch gaps that were fabricated on three separate semi-insulating GaAs wafers. For fixed-wavelength laser sources, it has been shown that one can optimize the optical coupling by varying the switch temperature. The switch resistance decreased by a factor of three as a result of an increase in the switch temperature of 20 degree(s)C at photon energies near the absorption edge. A conductive-mode plasma model has been developed that adequately predicts the nonresonant switch behavior.

Citation Download Citation

Stephen E. Saddow, Bruno J. Thedrez, Sheng-Lung L. Huang, Timothy J. Mermagen, and Chi Hsiang Lee "Investigation of the temperature and electric field dependence of a GaAs microwave photoconductive switch", Proc. SPIE 1873, Optically Activated Switching III, (9 June 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.146555

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available