Dead space effect in space-charge region of collector of AlGaAs/InGaAs p-n-p heterojunction bipolar transistors

Hole-initiated avalanche multiplication is investigated using an AlGaAs/InGaAs p-n-p heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT). Both experimental measurements and theoretical calculation are used to determine the avalanche multiplication factor. A large departure is observed at low electric field when comparison is made between the measured data and theoretical results obtained from the standard ionization model. The comparison shows that the conventional impact ionization model, based on local electric field, substantially overestimates the hole avalanche multiplication factor M-p-1 in the AlGaAs/InGaAs p-n-p HBT, where a significant dead space effect occurs in the collector space-charge region. A simple correction model for the dead space is proposed, that allows the multiplication to be accurately predicted, even in a heavily doped structure. Based on this model, multiplication characteristics for different threshold energy of the hole are calculated. A threshold energy of 2.5 eV was determined to be suitable for describing the hole-initiated impact ionization process. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.