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An Optically Gated InP Based Thyristor for High Power Pulsed Switching Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

J. H. Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855
R. Lis
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855
D. Coblentz
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855. AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ 07974.
J. Illan
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855
S. McAfee
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855
T. Burke
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855 U. S. Army LABCOM, ETD Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703.
M. Weiner
Affiliation:
U. S. Army LABCOM, ETD Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703.
W. Buchwald
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855 U. S. Army LABCOM, ETD Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703.
K. Jones
Affiliation:
U. S. Army LABCOM, ETD Laboratory, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703.
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Abstract

An MOCVD grown InP based optothyristor has been fabricated and tested for high power pulsed switching applications. To increase the power handling capability, the thyristor structure has a 250 μm thick Fe doped semi-insulating (SI) InP sandwiched between two pn junctions of a conventional thyristor. The turn-on of the thyristor is controlled by optical illumination on the SI-InP which creates a high concentration of electron and hole pairs. More than 1,100 V device hold-off voltage has been observed and over 66 A switched current has been realized with a di/dt rating of 1.38×1010 A/s. The switched current as a function of switch voltage and of optical illumination power has also been studied. Comparison with the switching characteristics of a bulk SI-InP photoconductive switch clearly indicates the advantage of this optothyristor in terms of power handling capability.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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References

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