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Electronics and FluidicsElectrical and Electronic Equipment

Thermal Modeling of GaN HEMTs on Sapphire and Diamond

Authors: III Salm Roman P.; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
Abstract:
Wide bandgap semiconductors have entered into Naval radar use and will eventually replace vacuum tube and conventional solid-state amplifiers for all modern military radar and communications applications. Gallium Nitride (GaN) High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs) are on the leading edge of wide bandgap technology and have the performance characteristics to dominate in high power - high bandwidth applications. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Office of Naval Research (ONR) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) are all sponsoring research projects to apply wide bandgap technology. This thesis studies the effects of changing the substrate material of an existing GaN HEMT from sapphire to diamond through the use of commercially available Silvaco software for modeling and simulation. The unparalleled thermal properties of diamond are expected to dramatically decrease device temperatures and increase component lifetimes and reliability.

Limitations: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Description: Master's thesis
Pages: 71
Report Date: DEC 2005
Report Number: A983344
Keywords relating to this report:
*GALLIUM NITRIDES
*HIGH ELECTRON MOBILITY TRANSISTORS
BROADBAND
DIAMONDS
ENERGY GAPS
MILITARY EQUIPMENT
RADAR EQUIPMENT
SAPPHIRE
SEMICONDUCTORS
THERMAL PROPERTIES
THESES
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