We report on experimental observation of impact ionization in InAlAs/InP heterojunction field effect
transistors (HFET) with an InP channel. The I
g(V
gs)
V
ds
static characteristics and electroluminescence
intensity are compared, exhibiting similar evolutions with bias conditions. These observations
indicate that minority carriers (holes) are generated in the structure, through an impact ionization
process. This process, unusual in InP channel FETs, is attributed to the staggered InAlAs/InP
interface.
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