Oliver Ambacher

Bio: Oliver Ambacher is an academic researcher from Fraunhofer Society. The author has contributed to research in topics: Amplifier & High-electron-mobility transistor. The author has an hindex of 64, co-authored 848 publications receiving 26256 citations. Previous affiliations of Oliver Ambacher include Osram & Siemens.

Analysis of composition fluctuations on an atomic scale in Al0.25Ga0.75N by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

Abstract: Composition fluctuations in the Al0.25Ga0.75N layer of an AlGaN/GaN transistor structure grown by plasma induced molecular beam epitaxy on Al2O3(0001) at a growth temperature of 870 °C were studied by digital analysis of lattice images (DALI) of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) cross-section images. DALI exploits the linear dependence of the lattice parameters on the Al content by applying Vegard’s law. Detecting the distances between intensity maxima positions in the micrograph which can be considered as a fingerprint of the local lattice parameters quantitatively derives composition profiles on an atomic scale. In the HRTEM cross-section image different areas were observed in the Al0.25Ga0.75N layer with either homogeneous or “striped” contrast. In the striped areas the analyses indicate a strong periodic decomposition with a period of 1 nm consisting of 1 ML Al0.8Ga0.2N and about 3 ML Al0.07Ga0.93N. The regions with homogeneous contrast do not exhibit significant composition flu...

Low-Loss Millimeter-Wave SPDT Switch MMICs in a Metamorphic HEMT Technology

Abstract: This letter presents the design and performance of two single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switches operating in $V$ -band (50–75 GHz) and $W$ -band (75–110 GHz). The millimeter-wave (mmW) integrated circuits (MMICs) are fabricated in a 50-nm gate-length metamorphic high-electron-mobility transistor technology. Special attention was paid to the reduction of the insertion loss (IL). Thus, both switch MMICs achieve an IL of 1–1.6 dB (average 1.2 dB), covering the entire $V$ -band and $W$ -band, respectively. The isolation (ISO) of the switches is better than 31.6 and 28.5 dB, respectively. The input power for 1 dB of IL compression is at least 22 and 19 dBm, respectively. A wafer mapping of both circuits exhibits a high yield and low spread of IL and ISO. Based on the given results, the presented SPDT switch MMICs demonstrates state-of-the-art performance.

Raman characterization of the optical phonons in AlxGa1-xN layers grown by MBE and MOCVD

Abstract: We present the results of Raman measurements performed on AlxGa1-xN layers grown by MBE and MOCVD. The films were deposited on (0001) c-sapphire substrates, and the aluminum content covered the whole composition range for x from 0 (GaN) to 1 (AlN). It is shown that the energies of both A1(TO) and A1(LO) phonon modes smoothly increase with increasing x, indicating a one-mode behavior. The E2 phonon mode, however, presents a different behavior. Its energy increases very slowly with aluminum content and, for x≈0.4, a new phonon mode shows up which is shifted to higher energies by 50 cm-1. This new line leads to the E2 AlN mode for increasing aluminum content. The linewidths and intensities of these modes strongly depend on composition. These results are compared with recent theoretical calculations. Finally, the Raman selection rules in the MBE and MOCVD samples are compared and conclusions about the quality of the layers are drawn.One of the authors (A.C.) would like to thank the Ministry of Education of Spain for financial support and the Walter Schottky Institut for its hospitality.

Small signal modelling approach for submillimeter wave III–V HEMTs with analysation and optimization possibilities

Abstract: In this paper we present a new small signal multiport modelling approach for III–V High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMT) that is capable for internal transistor analysation and optimization as well as scaleable in gate width and finger-number. The new model decomposes the planar transistor structure into single multiport elements that are separately described by electrical equivalent circuits and connected to each other over discrete ports. With this new modelling topology we only need to extract a couple of multiport elements to predict the correct behavior for a high amount of different planar transistor structures. This point gives the circuit designer a wide range of possibilities to analyze and optimize a given transistor structure according to special needs, like low-noise, input-output matching or cryogenic behavior on a computer based level.

Photoluminescence from Nanocrystalline Silicon Prepared by Plasma CVD and Oxidation

Abstract: Light emitting nanocrystalline silicon has been prepared by a completely dry processing which uses standard silicon technology. This enables us to prepare compact films on various substrates and to control the crystallite size. Dependence of the photoluminescence intensity and its peak energy on the crystallite size is reported and compared with current theoretical models.

I and i

Abstract: There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality. Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

Principles of Neural Science

Abstract: I have developed "tennis elbow" from lugging this book around the past four weeks, but it is worth the pain, the effort, and the aspirin. It is also worth the (relatively speaking) bargain price. Including appendixes, this book contains 894 pages of text. The entire panorama of the neural sciences is surveyed and examined, and it is comprehensive in its scope, from genomes to social behaviors. The editors explicitly state that the book is designed as "an introductory text for students of biology, behavior, and medicine," but it is hard to imagine any audience, interested in any fragment of neuroscience at any level of sophistication, that would not enjoy this book. The editors have done a masterful job of weaving together the biologic, the behavioral, and the clinical sciences into a single tapestry in which everyone from the molecular biologist to the practicing psychiatrist can find and appreciate his or

Phonons and related crystal properties from density-functional perturbation theory

Abstract: This article reviews the current status of lattice-dynamical calculations in crystals, using density-functional perturbation theory, with emphasis on the plane-wave pseudopotential method. Several specialized topics are treated, including the implementation for metals, the calculation of the response to macroscopic electric fields and their relevance to long-wavelength vibrations in polar materials, the response to strain deformations, and higher-order responses. The success of this methodology is demonstrated with a number of applications existing in the literature.

Band parameters for III–V compound semiconductors and their alloys

Abstract: We present a comprehensive, up-to-date compilation of band parameters for the technologically important III–V zinc blende and wurtzite compound semiconductors: GaAs, GaSb, GaP, GaN, AlAs, AlSb, AlP, AlN, InAs, InSb, InP, and InN, along with their ternary and quaternary alloys. Based on a review of the existing literature, complete and consistent parameter sets are given for all materials. Emphasizing the quantities required for band structure calculations, we tabulate the direct and indirect energy gaps, spin-orbit, and crystal-field splittings, alloy bowing parameters, effective masses for electrons, heavy, light, and split-off holes, Luttinger parameters, interband momentum matrix elements, and deformation potentials, including temperature and alloy-composition dependences where available. Heterostructure band offsets are also given, on an absolute scale that allows any material to be aligned relative to any other.

Conjugated polymer-based organic solar cells

Abstract: The need to develop inexpensive renewable energy sources stimulates scientific research for efficient, low-cost photovoltaic devices.1 The organic, polymer-based photovoltaic elements have introduced at least the potential of obtaining cheap and easy methods to produce energy from light.2 The possibility of chemically manipulating the material properties of polymers (plastics) combined with a variety of easy and cheap processing techniques has made polymer-based materials present in almost every aspect of modern society.3 Organic semiconductors have several advantages: (a) lowcost synthesis, and (b) easy manufacture of thin film devices by vacuum evaporation/sublimation or solution cast or printing technologies. Furthermore, organic semiconductor thin films may show high absorption coefficients4 exceeding 105 cm-1, which makes them good chromophores for optoelectronic applications. The electronic band gap of organic semiconductors can be engineered by chemical synthesis for simple color changing of light emitting diodes (LEDs).5 Charge carrier mobilities as high as 10 cm2/V‚s6 made them competitive with amorphous silicon.7 This review is organized as follows. In the first part, we will give a general introduction to the materials, production techniques, working principles, critical parameters, and stability of the organic solar cells. In the second part, we will focus on conjugated polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells, mainly on polyphenylenevinylene (PPV) derivatives/(1-(3-methoxycarbonyl) propyl-1-phenyl[6,6]C61) (PCBM) fullerene derivatives and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/PCBM systems. In the third part, we will discuss the alternative approaches such as polymer/polymer solar cells and organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells. In the fourth part, we will suggest possible routes for further improvements and finish with some conclusions. The different papers mentioned in the text have been chosen for didactical purposes and cannot reflect the chronology of the research field nor have a claim of completeness. The further interested reader is referred to the vast amount of quality papers published in this field during the past decade.