Robert Bass

Bio: Robert Bass is an academic researcher from United States Naval Research Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: High-electron-mobility transistor & Molecular beam epitaxy. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 54 publications receiving 1053 citations.

AlSb/InAs HEMT's for low-voltage, high-speed applications

Abstract: The design, fabrication, and characterization of 0.1 /spl mu/m AlSb/InAs HEMT's are reported. These devices have an In/sub 0.4/Al/sub 0.6/As/AlSb composite barrier above the InAs channel and a p/sup +/ GaSb layer within the AlSb buffer layer. The HEMT's exhibit a transconductance of 600 mS/mm and an f/sub T/ of 120 GHz at V/sub Ds/=0.6 V. An intrinsic f/sub T/ of 160 GHz is obtained after the gate bonding pad capacitance is removed from an equivalent circuit. The present HEMT's have a noise figure of 1 dB with 14 dB associated gain at 4 GHz and V/sub Ds/=0.4 V. Noise equivalent circuit simulation indicates that this noise figure is primarily limited by gate leakage current and that a noise figure of 0.3 dB at 4 GHz is achievable with expected technological improvements. HEMT's with a 0.5 /spl mu/m gate length on the same wafer exhibit a transconductance of 1 S/mm and an intrinsic f/sub T/L/sub g/, product of 50 GHz-/spl mu/m.

Effects of molecular properties on nanolithography in polymethyl methacrylate

Abstract: High-resolution lithographic performance of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) of molecular weights (MWs) of 50, 100, 496, and 950 K is compared. A chain scission model is used to analyze the behavior of the four molecular weight resists. The chain scission model is combined with an empirical dissolution model to successfully describe the edge profile of a bar pattern. Isolated linewidth data for the 100 and 496 K resists both fit a Monte Carlo code generated linespread function that was convolved with a Gaussian of standard deviation 9 nm. The width was comparable to that in the 950 K resist, but a factor of 3 narrower than that found for the 50 K resist. The higher molecular weight, 496 and 950 K resists showed more developer induced swelling than the lower molecular weight resists. In fact, the developer induced swelling limited the ability to develop 40 nm gratings in the 496 and 950 K resists. Reduction in developer strength produced some improvement. Etching of the supporting resist structure in the gratings was also observed, particularly in the 50 and 100 K resists. The 50 K MW resist exhibited the worst grating contrast upon development. Grating enhanced etching relative to 10 μm bar areas exposed with comparable area dose was observed. A 40 nm period grating was defined in the 100 K resist.

High Electron Velocity Submicrometer AlN/GaN MOS-HEMTs on Freestanding GaN Substrates

Abstract: AlN/GaN heterostructures with 1700-cm2/V·s Hall mobility have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy on freestanding GaN substrates. Submicrometer gate-length (LG) metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) fabricated from this material show excellent dc and RF performance. LG = 100 nm devices exhibited a drain current density of 1.5 A/mm, current gain cutoff frequency fT of 165 GHz, a maximum frequency of oscillation fmax of 171 GHz, and intrinsic average electron velocity ve of 1.5 ×107 cm/s. The 40-GHz load-pull measurements of LG = 140 nm devices showed 1-W/mm output power, with a 4.6-dB gain and 17% power-added efficiency. GaN substrates provide a way of achieving high mobility, high ve, and high RF performance in AlN/GaN transistors.

Atomic layer deposited Ta2O5 gate insulation for enhancing breakdown voltage of AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

Abstract: AlN/GaN heterostructures with a 3.5 nm AlN cap have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy followed by a 6 nm thick atomic layer deposited Ta2O5 film. Transistors fabricated with 150 nm length gates showed drain current density of 1.37 A/mm, transconductance of 315 mS/mm, and sustained drain-source biases up to 96 V while in the off-state before destructive breakdown as a result of the Ta2O5 gate insulator. Terman’s method has been modified for the multijunction capacitor and allowed the measurement of interface state density (∼1013 cm−2 eV−1). Small-signal frequency performance of 75 and 115 GHz was obtained for ft and fmax, respectively.

Ohmic contacts in AlSb/InAs high electron mobility transistors for low-voltage operation

Abstract: We report on the fabrication and characteristics of Pd/Pt/Au ohmic contacts that have been used in AlSb/InAs high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with low access resistance. The metalization exhibits minimal in-diffusion and a contact resistance of 0.08 Ω mm after a 175 °C hot-plate heat treatment. By comparison, AuGe/Ni/Pt/Au ohmic contact metalizations formed using a 300 °C rapid thermal anneal exhibit a contact resistance of 0.11 Ω mm, but with considerable Au in-diffusion. Using the Pd/Pt/Au contact, 0.6 μm gate-length AlSb/InAs HEMTs exhibit a low-field source-drain resistance of 0.47 Ω mm and a transconductance above 1 S/mm. After removal of the gate bonding pad capacitance from an equivalent circuit, an fTLg product of 38 GHz μm is obtained at VDS=0.4 V. HEMTs with a 60 nm gate length exhibit a low-field source-drain resistance of 0.35 Ω mm and a measured fT of 90 GHz at a drain voltage of only 100 mV. These fTLg and fT values are the highest reported for any field effect transistor at these ...

Chaotic Dirac billiard in graphene quantum dots.

Abstract: The exceptional electronic properties of graphene, with its charge carriers mimicking relativistic quantum particles and its formidable potential in various applications, have ensured a rapid growth of interest in this new material. We report on electron transport in quantum dot devices carved entirely from graphene. At large sizes (>100 nanometers), they behave as conventional single-electron transistors, exhibiting periodic Coulomb blockade peaks. For quantum dots smaller than 100 nanometers, the peaks become strongly nonperiodic, indicating a major contribution of quantum confinement. Random peak spacing and its statistics are well described by the theory of chaotic neutrino billiards. Short constrictions of only a few nanometers in width remain conductive and reveal a confinement gap of up to 0.5 electron volt, demonstrating the possibility of molecular-scale electronics based on graphene.

Vacuum Electronic High Power Terahertz Sources

Abstract: Recent research and development has been incredibly successful at advancing the capabilities for vacuum electronic device (VED) sources of powerful terahertz (THz) and near-THz coherent radiation, both CW or average and pulsed. Currently, the VED source portfolio covers over 12 orders of magnitude in power (mW-to-GW) and two orders of magnitude in frequency (from ; 10 THz). Further advances are still possible and anticipated. They will be enabled by improved understanding of fundamental beam-wave interactions, electromagnetic mode competition and mode control, along with research and development of new materials, fabrication methods, cathodes, electron beam alignment and focusing, magnet technologies, THz metrology and advanced, broadband output radiation coupling techniques.

1/f Noise Sources

Abstract: This survey deals with 1/f noise in homogeneous semiconductor samples. A distinction is made between mobility noise and number noise. It is shown that there always is mobility noise with an /spl alpha/ value with a magnitude in the order of 10/sup -4/. Damaging the crystal has a strong influence on /spl alpha/, /spl alpha/ may increase by orders of magnitude. Some theoretical models are briefly discussed none of them can explain all experimental results. The /spl alpha/ values of several semiconductors are given. These values can be used in calculations of 1/f noise in devices. >

1200-V Normally Off GaN-on-Si Field-Effect Transistors With Low Dynamic on -Resistance

Abstract: This letter reports high-voltage GaN field-effect transistors fabricated on Si substrates. A halide-based plasma treatment was performed to enable normally off operation. Atomic layer deposition of Al2O3 gate insulator was adopted to reduce the gate leakage current. Incorporation of multiple field plates, with one field plate connected to the gate electrode and two field plates connected to the source electrode successfully enabled a high breakdown voltage of 1200 V and low dynamic on-resistance at high-voltage operation.

Antimonide-based compound semiconductors for electronic devices: A review

Abstract: Several research groups have been actively pursuing antimonide-based electronic devices in recent years. The advantage of narrow-bandgap Sb-based devices over conventional GaAs- or InP-based devices is the attainment of high-frequency operation with much lower power consumption. This paper will review the progress on three antimonide-based electronic devices: high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs), and heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). Progress on the HEMT includes the demonstration of Ka- and W-band low-noise amplifier circuits that operate at less than one-third the power of similar InP-based circuits. The RTDs exhibit excellent figures of merit but, like their InP- and GaAs-based counterparts, are waiting for a viable commercial application. Several approaches are being investigated for HBTs, with circuits reported using InAs and InGaAs bases.