GaAs PIN Photodiode (Artículo de COMSOL)
GaAs PIN Photodiode (Artículo de COMSOL)
GaAs PIN Photodiode (Artículo de COMSOL)
This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 5.4.
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This model demonstrates how to use the Semiconductor Optoelectronics, Frequency
Domain interface. This interface combines the Semiconductor interface with the
Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface, and is suitable for modeling direct
band-gap optoelectronic semiconductor devices. A simple p-i-n photodiode device is
modeled in this example.
Introduction
Photodiodes are semiconductor devices that convert incident light into a current. Incident
photons with energy larger than the band gap can be absorbed by interacting with an
electron in the valence band and promoting it across the band gap into the conduction
band. Thus, each absorbed photon creates a hole in the valence band and an electron in
the conduction band. If the device is appropriately designed, these extra photo-generated
carriers can be separated and collected, resulting in a current from the device terminals.
Model Definition
This model simulates a simple rectangular GaAs p-i-n structure. The geometry and doping
profile are shown in Figure 1, along with the energy level diagram for the device. The p-
i-n structure is effective for photodiode devices due to the sloped nature of the conduction
and valence bands, which have highest energy at the p-contact and lowest at the n-contact.
When a photon is absorbed creating an electron and hole, the electron is swept towards
the n-contact whilst the hole is swept in the opposite direction towards the p-contact. The
p-contact is grounded and the n-contact is set to 2 V, and thus the device operates under
reverse bias. This mode of operation is sometimes referred to as photoconductive mode,
as the absorbed light is being used to generate a current. For a given wavelength of
incident light, the current is linearly proportional to the irradiance. The reverse bias also
increases both the slope of the energy levels and the width of the depletion layer, resulting
in a reduced response time. However, this comes at the expense of an increased dark
current, as more current flows in the absence of light due to the bias.
n-contact
Figure 1: Device geometry, doping, and energy level diagram. Top pane: the device geometry
is a simple rectangle with a p-contact on the top surface and an n-contact on the bottom
surface. Bottom left pane: Signed dopant concentration taken along the red arrow indicated
in the geometry diagram. Negative values correspond to net p-type doping and positive values
correspond to net n-type doping. The p-i-n dopant profile is clearly visible, with highly doped p
and n-type layers adjacent to the top and bottom surface, respectively. There is a wide intrinsic
(undoped) region between approximately 0.15 and 0.85 μm from the surface. Bottom right
pane: The resulting energy level diagram, taken along the red arrow indicated in the geometry
diagram, showing the band edges and the quasi-Fermi levels. In the intrinsic region the quasi-
Fermi electron level is below the conduction band and the quasi-Fermi hole level is above the
valence band. This means that the conduction band is empty whilst the valence band is full,
making this region well suited to absorbing photons.
The Semiconductor interface is used to define the doping and the electrical contacts. The
Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface is used to define the incident
electromagnetic radiation. The Optical Transitions node configures the coupling between
the two interfaces. The model is set to compute the absorption using a direct band-gap
model which assumes parabolic bands, this is a reasonable approximation for the GaAs
material used for this device. Both spontaneous and stimulated emission are computed,
using the spontaneous lifetime of electron-hole pairs within the material to calculate the
interaction strength between states in the conduction and valence bands with the same k-
vector value. The frequency domain is represented using an extra dimension, which allows
some properties to be visualized as a function of the photon energy. This is used to allow
the spontaneous emission spectra to be plotted. The absorption of photons adds a
generation term for electrons and holes to the carrier continuity equations, as well as
In this model, a wavelength sweep is performed where the power of the incident light is
held constant whilst the wavelength is varied from 875 nm to 475 nm. The band-gap of
the GaAs material is 1.424 eV, which corresponds to a wavelength of ~872 nm. Therefore
the incident photon energy is swept from just below the band-gap energy up to the middle
of the blue range of the visible spectrum.
Figure 3 shows the magnitude of the electric field throughout the device when the
wavelength is set to 725 nm. As expected, the magnitude decreases as the wave traverses
the device. The change in magnitude appears to be approximately linear due to the 1 μm
thickness of the device; if the absorbing region were thicker the exponential decay of the
electric field magnitude would be more readily observed.
Figure 3: Magnitude of the electric field of the incident radiation throughout the device when
the wavelength is set to 725 nm.
Figure 4: Spontaneous emission from the device when the incident wavelength is set to 725 nm.
Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.
MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
Input some parameters which will be used in the model.
GEOMETRY 1
Create the model geometry. The length scale of um is appropriate and the geometry
consists of a single rectangle.
Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Primitives and choose Rectangle.
Switch to Fermi-Dirac carrier statistics, which is appropriate for the high doping
concentrations used in this device.
SEMICONDUCTOR (SEMI)
1 In the Settings window for Semiconductor, locate the Model Properties section.
2 From the Carrier statistics list, choose Fermi-Dirac.
GEOMETRY 1
Rectangle 1 (r1)
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 click
Rectangle 1 (r1).
2 In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3 In the Width text field, type w_dom.
4 In the Height text field, type h_dom.
5 Click Build All Objects.
Set up the doping, this is achieved with five doping features. Analytic Doping Model
features are used to define the background doping and the main p and n sections of the
device. Geometric Doping Models are used to create highly doped layers are the top
and bottom of the device to increase the efficiency of the metal contacts.
SEMICONDUCTOR (SEMI)
0[um] X
h_dom-0.1*h_dom Y
Metal Contact 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Metal Contact.
2 In the Settings window for Metal Contact, type p-contact in the Label text field.
3 Select Boundary 3 only.
4 Locate the Terminal section. In the V0 text field, type V_p.
Metal Contact 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Metal Contact.
2 In the Settings window for Metal Contact, type n-contact in the Label text field.
3 Select Boundary 2 only.
4 Locate the Terminal section. In the V0 text field, type V_n.
Add GaAs material from the Semiconductor Material Library and specify the real
component of the refractive index.
ADD MATERIAL
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
MATERIALS
With the doping and electrical contacts defined, the next step is to configure the Optical
Transitions feature. The default settings are appropriate for this model, all that is
required is to set the spontaneous lifetime.
SEMICONDUCTOR (SEMI)
Optical Transitions 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Semiconductor (semi) click
Optical Transitions 1.
2 In the Settings window for Optical Transitions, locate the Transition Matrix Element
section.
3 In the τspon text field, type tau.
Next configure the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface. Two Ports
are required, one to excite the top surface of the device with incident radiation and one
on the bottom surface to absorb the radiation. This is equivalent to having the
electromagnetic wave pass through the device without any reflection from the exit
surface.
In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain (ewfd).
0 x
0 y
1 z
Port 2
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Port.
2 Select Boundary 2 only.
3 In the Settings window for Port, locate the Port Mode Settings section.
4 Specify the E0 vector as
0 x
0 y
1 z
Periodic Condition 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Periodic Condition.
Add the Periodic Condition feature to the sides of the device. This is equivalent to
modeling a section of larger device which has greater lateral extent.
2 Select Boundaries 1 and 4 only.
Set a nonzero initial value for the electric field.
Initial Values 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Electromagnetic Waves,
Frequency Domain (ewfd) click Initial Values 1.
2 In the Settings window for Initial Values, locate the Initial Values section.
0 x
0 y
1 z
MESH 1
Distribution 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Mesh 1 and choose
Mapped.
2 Right-click Mapped 1 and choose Distribution.
3 Select Boundary 3 only.
4 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
5 In the Number of elements text field, type 1.
Distribution 2
1 Right-click Mapped 1 and choose Distribution.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
4 In the Number of elements text field, type 500.
5 Click Build All.
Create an integration operator to aid in plotting the results.
DEFINITIONS (COMP1)
Integration 1 (intop1)
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Component Couplings and choose Integration.
2 Select Domain 1 only.
Configure the study to sweep the wavelength and then compute.
STUDY 1
1 In the Model Builder window, click Study 1.
2 In the Settings window for Study, type Study 1: Wavelength sweep in the Label text
field.
Step 1: Frequency-Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1: Wavelength sweep click Step 1: Frequency-
Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency-Stationary, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Frequency text field, type f0.
4 Click to expand the Study Extensions section. Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.
5 Click Add.
6 In the table, enter the following settings:
RESULTS
1D Plot Group 1
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Doping profile in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose First.
Line Graph 1
1 Right-click Doping profile and choose Line Graph.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Line Graph, locate the y-Axis Data section.
4 In the Expression text field, type semi.Nd-semi.Na.
5 In the Unit field, type 1/cm^3.
6 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Reversed arc length.
Doping profile
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Doping profile.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Plot Settings section.
1D Plot Group 2
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Energy level diagram in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose Last.
Line Graph 1
1 Right-click Energy level diagram and choose Line Graph.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Line Graph, locate the y-Axis Data section.
4 In the Expression text field, type semi.Ec_e.
5 From the Unit list, choose eV.
6 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Reversed arc length.
7 Click to expand the Legends section. From the Legends list, choose Manual.
8 In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Conduction band
Conduction band 1
1 Right-click Results>Energy level diagram>Conduction band and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Line Graph, type Electron Quasi-Fermi energy in the
Label text field.
3 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the Expression text field, type semi.Efn_e.
4 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Electron Fermi level
Conduction band 1
1 Right-click Conduction band and choose Duplicate.
2 In the Settings window for Line Graph, type Valence band in the Label text field.
3 Locate the y-Axis Data section. In the Expression text field, type semi.Ev_e.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose Black.
5 Locate the Legends section. In the table, enter the following settings:
Legends
Valence band
Legends
Hole Fermi level
1D Plot Group 3
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Current as a function of
wavelength in the Label text field.
Global 1
1 Right-click Current as a function of wavelength and choose Global.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:
4 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Unit list, choose nm.
5 In the Current as a function of wavelength toolbar, click Plot.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
Plot the electric field for a wavelength of 725 nm. This wavelength corresponds with
the peak in the current.
1D Plot Group 4
1 In the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Electric field in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose From list.
4 In the Parameter values (lda0 (m)) list, select 7.25E-7.
Line Graph 1
1 Right-click Electric field and choose Line Graph.
2 Select Boundary 1 only.
3 In the Settings window for Line Graph, locate the x-Axis Data section.
4 From the Parameter list, choose Reversed arc length.
Electric field
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Electric field.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Plot Settings section.
3 Select the x-axis label check box.
1D Plot Group 5
1 In the Results toolbar, click 1D Plot Group.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Spontaneous emission in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, choose Study 1: Extra dimension (sol1).
4 From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose From list.
5 In the Parameter values (lda0 (m)) list, select 7.25E-7.
Line Graph 1
1 Right-click Spontaneous emission and choose Line Graph.
The spontaneous emission data is held in a variable semi.ot1.dP_dE which exists in the
extra dimension. This data is plotted using the expression comp1.atxd2(0,0.5e-6,
semi.ot1.dP_dE), where the command comp1.atxd#([coord],var) retrieves the data from
variable var as a function of the extra dimension from coordinate coord of the model
geometry. In this example, the power emitted per unit volume and energy
(semi.ot1.dP_dE) is obtained as a function of frequency (the extra dimension) from
coordinate (0,0.5 um), which corresponds with the vertical center of the device. The
numerical value # is required to let COMSOL know the dimension of the geometry to
which the extra dimension is attached, in this case the model geometry is 2D so the
7 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Parameter list, choose Expression.
8 In the Expression text field, type hbar_const*comp1.atxd2(0,0.5e-6,
semi.ot1.omega).
9 From the Unit list, choose eV.
10 Select the Description check box.
11 In the associated text field, type Photon energy.
Spontaneous emission
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Spontaneous emission.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Title section.
3 From the Title type list, choose Manual.
4 In the Title text area, type Spontaneous Emission.
5 In the Spontaneous emission toolbar, click Plot.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.