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Full-Text Articles in Electronic Devices and Semiconductor Manufacturing
A Bulk Optically Controlled Semiconductor Switch, Rudolf K.F. Germer, Karl H. Schoenbach, Stephen G.E. Pronko
A Bulk Optically Controlled Semiconductor Switch, Rudolf K.F. Germer, Karl H. Schoenbach, Stephen G.E. Pronko
Bioelectrics Publications
Turn‐on and turn‐off of bulk semiconductor switches, based on excitation and quenching of photoconductivity, respectively, have been demonstrated with copper‐doped II‐VI semiconductor crystals. The increase of the conductivity (turn‐on) was realized with a xenon flash‐lamp pulse of 15‐μs duration. A reduction of the conductivity (turn‐off) was obtained by irradiating the samples with IR light using an 8‐ns Nd:YAG laser pulse (YAG denotes yttrium aluminum garnet). For turn‐on in CdS:Cu the conductivity follows the xenon flash excitation. The turn‐off time constant was 250 ns. ZnS and ZnSe crystals showed a slower response. A memory effect for the IR light was observed.
An Optically Controlled Closing And Opening Semiconductor Switch, K. H. Schoenbach, V. K. Lakdawala, R. Germer, S. T. Ko
An Optically Controlled Closing And Opening Semiconductor Switch, K. H. Schoenbach, V. K. Lakdawala, R. Germer, S. T. Ko
Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications
A concept for a bulk semiconductor switch is presented, where the conductivity is increased and reduced, respectively, through illumination with light of different wavelengths. The increase in conductivity is accomplished by electron ionization from deep centers and generation of bound holes. The reduction of conductivity is obtained by hole ionization from the excited centers and subsequent recombination of free electrons and holes. The transient behavior of electron and hole density in a high power semiconductor (GaAs:Cu) switch is computed by means of a rate equation model. Changes in conductivity by five orders of magnitude can be obtained.