The ballistic FET with a current injector

Abstract

The mechanism of current modulation in a ballistic FET with a current injecting source is studied. Static solutions to Poison's equations, in the parabolic approximation, were studied under conditions of ballistic injection and it was found that the homogeneous solutions were symmetric about potential maxima or minima leading to a family of periodic solutions. Solutions were explored where the source was a perfect mono-energetic current injector and the drain a perfect source for or sink for electrons. Boundary conditions were developed matching the source and drain-derived current streams. Conditions for formation of a virtual cathode near the source were explored, leading to the determination of the ballistic injection ratio. Bistable switching between open channel and virtual cathode modes was found. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.