Effect of optical illumination on DDR IMPATT diode at 36 GHz

Abstract

A reverse biased p-n junction diode with proper resonant cavity and boundary conditions is able to generate rf power and shows normal DC and small signal properties designed with semiconductor materials like 4H-SiC, GaAs, InP, Si-based DDR IMPATT structure at Ka band with dark condition. But when it is exposed to optical illumination through a proper optical window for both top mounted (TM) and flip chip (FC) configuration, it shows the influence on the oscillator performances in that band of frequency. The simulated results are analyzed for 36 GHz window frequency in each of the diodes and relative differences are found in power output and frequency of all these diodes with variable intensities of illumination. Finally it is found that optical control has immense effect in both FC and TM mode regarding the reduction of output power and shifting of operating frequency from which optimization is done for the best optically sensitive material for IMPATT diode.