Accession Number:

ADA429636

Title:

Change of Microscopic Tunneling on a Macroscopic Time Scale: Current Surge Model

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NMSPACE VEHICLES DIRECTORATE

Personal Author(s):

• Huang, Danhong
• Singh, Anjali
• Cardimona, D. A.

Report Date:

2000-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

The Current Surge model is proposed to calculate the tunneling current in multiple quantum well structures in the presence of a slow time-dependent electric field. The microscopic origin of a zero-bias residual current observed and reported previously A. Singh and D. A. Cardimona, Opt. Eng. Bellingham 38, 1424 1999 is explored. The mystery of the observation of a microscopic tunneling change on a macroscopic time scale is uncovered, and the involvement of a very slow physical process is shown. Some new features, such as a current ripple, a current instability, a current hysteresis, and a current arch, are predicted and confirmed experimentally.

Descriptors:

• *TIME DEPENDENCE
• *ELECTRON TRANSPORT
• *TUNNELING(ELECTRONICS)
• *ELECTRIC FIELDS
• *INSTABILITY
• *HYSTERESIS
• *MULTIPLE QUANTUM WELLS
• STEADY STATE
• REPRINTS
• NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
• ALTERNATING CURRENT
• RIPPLES
• CHARGE DENSITY
• SURGES
• DIRECT CURRENT
• ADIABATIC CONDITIONS

Subject Categories:

• Electricity and Magnetism
• Quantum Theory and Relativity
• Solid State Physics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE