Microwave characterization and modeling of packaged HEMTs by a direct extraction procedure at cryogenic temperatures
In the present work we employ a direct extraction procedure to determine small signal equivalent circuit of microwave GaAs FETs by means of scattering (S-) parameter measurements down to cryogenic temperatures. The direct extraction procedure was tested on packaged AlGaAs/InGaAs HEMTs and good agreement between the simulated and measured S-parameters was obtained at different bias and temperature conditions. We employed a properly designed cryogenic set-up operating in our laboratory that allows to perform DC and RF characterization down to 30 K.
Langevin Approach to Understand the Noise of Microwave Transistors
A Langevin approach to understand the noise of microwave devices is presented. The device is represented by its equivalent circuit with the internal noise sources included as stochastic processes. From the circuit network analysis, a stochastic integral equation for the output voltage is derived and from its power spectrum the noise figure as a function of the operating frequency is obtained. The theoretical results have been compared with experimental data obtained by the characterization of an HEMT transistor series (NE20283A, by NEC) from 6 to 18 GHz at a low noise bias point. The reported procedure exhibits good accuracy, within the typical uncertainty range of any experimental determin…
DC and 1/f noise characterization of cryogenically cooled pseudomorphic HEMT's
Pseudomorphic (AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs) HEMT's have exhibited the best noise performance over the entire LF-to-microwave frequency range if compared to MESFET's and conventional GaAs HEMT's, due to either a reduced flicker noise, a lower G/R contribution and a smaller high-field diffusion noise. We have recently investigated the microwave (up to 18 GHz) noise properties of packaged pseudomorphic HEMT's from 290 K down to cryogenic temperature values. The current experimental work is aimed at extending such analysis to the LF noise range and at low temperatures. Cryogenic noise spectra (1 Hz to 100 KHz) and DC characteristics have therefore been recorded and the relevant observations on the devic…
On the noise resistance of field-effect transistors at microwave frequencies
This paper presents a survey on the topical aspects of the noise resistance in field-effect transistors (FET) at microwave frequencies. Such noise parameter represents the sensitivity of the device noise figure to the departure from the minimum noise condition and is therefore important in all low-noise applications. The performance of the noise resistance in FETs has been reviewed since the first noise modeling analysis of short-gate devices were presented in the early '70s. The authors also comment and compare their own results on this subject as obtained by extensive experimental activity in the field of noisy device characterization vs. frequency, bias and temperature conditions.
Experimental investigation of the kink effect and the low frequency noise properties in pseudomorphic HEMT’s
The kink effect in low-noise pseudomorphic (AlGaAs/InGaAs) HEMT's has been examined in detail by investigating the steady-state and pulsed I-V characteristics, the behavior of the output conductance dispersion and the performance of the gate leakage current to understand its origin. No clear evidence of impact ionization occurrence in the InGaAs channel at kink bias conditions (V-DS.kink = 1.5 V) has been found, thus suggesting that the predominant mechanism should be attributed to trap-related phenomena. A significant rise of the gate current has been found at very high drain voltages (far from V-DS.kink) associated with low drain current values which is probably due to impact ionization o…
Modeling of low-noise microwave HEMTs for CAD-oriented applications
The simultaneous determination of noise, gain and scattering parameters through a computer-driven noise figure measuring system allowed the rapid and accurate characterization of several samples of low noise HEMTs of the same family. From the measured parameters an equivalent circuit model representing the behavior of the typical device is extracted by means of a decomposition approach. Comparison between the model performance and the set of measured parameters of all devices are reported for the FHR 02FH (by Fujitsu). The modeling procedure is mainly oriented to the CAD of (M)MIC low noise wideband amplifiers. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.