221 research outputs found
The effect of electromechanical coupling on the strain in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field effect transistors
The strain in AlGaN/GaN heterojunction field-effect transistors (HFETs) is
examined theoretically in the context of the fully-coupled equation of state
for piezoelectric materials. Using a simple analytical model, it is shown that,
in the absence of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), the out-of-plane
strain obtained without electromechanical coupling is in error by about 30% for
an Al fraction of 0.3. This result has consequences for the calculation of
quantities that depend directly on the strain tensor. These quantities include
the eigenstates and electrostatic potential in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. It
is shown that for an HFET, the electromechanical coupling is screened by the
2DEG. Results for the electromechanical model, including the 2DEG, indicate
that the standard (decoupled) strain model is a reasonable approximation for
HFET calculataions. The analytical results are supported by a self-consistent
Schr\"odinger-Poisson calculation that includes the fully-coupled equation of
state together with the charge-balance equation.Comment: 6 figures, revte
Electromechanical coupling in free-standing AlGaN/GaN planar structures
The strain and electric fields present in free-standing AlGaN/GaN slabs are
examined theoretically within the framework of fully-coupled continuum elastic
and dielectric models. Simultaneous solutions for the electric field and strain
components are obtained by minimizing the electric enthalpy. We apply
constraints appropriate to pseudomorphic semiconductor epitaxial layers and
obtain closed-form analytic expressions that take into account the wurtzite
crystal anisotropy. It is shown that in the absence of free charges, the
calculated strain and electric fields are substantially differently from those
obtained using the standard model without electromechanical coupling. It is
also shown, however, that when a two-dimensional electron gas is present at the
AlGaN/GaN interface, a condition that is the basis for heterojunction
field-effect transistors, the electromechanical coupling is screened and the
decoupled model is once again a good approximation. Specific cases of these
calculations corresponding to transistor and superlattice structures are
discussed.Comment: revte
Mycobacterium tuberculosis subverts negative regulatory pathways in human macrophages to drive immunopathology.
Tuberculosis remains a global pandemic and drives lung matrix destruction to transmit. Whilst pathways driving inflammatory responses in macrophages have been relatively well described, negative regulatory pathways are less well defined. We hypothesised that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) specifically targets negative regulatory pathways to augment immunopathology. Inhibition of signalling through the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 pathway increased matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) gene expression and secretion, a collagenase central to TB pathogenesis, and multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines. In patients with confirmed pulmonary TB, PI3Kδ expression was absent within granulomas. Furthermore, Mtb infection suppressed PI3Kδ gene expression in macrophages. Interestingly, inhibition of the MNK pathway, downstream of pro-inflammatory p38 and ERK MAPKs, also increased MMP-1 secretion, whilst suppressing secretion of TH1 cytokines. Cross-talk between the PI3K and MNK pathways was demonstrated at the level of eIF4E phosphorylation. Mtb globally suppressed the MMP-inhibitory pathways in macrophages, reducing levels of mRNAs encoding PI3Kδ, mTORC-1 and MNK-1 via upregulation of miRNAs. Therefore, Mtb disrupts negative regulatory pathways at multiple levels in macrophages to drive a tissue-destructive phenotype that facilitates transmission
High Quality Interfaces in GaAs-Alas Quantum Wells Determined from High Resolution Photoluminescence
Landau levels and magnetopolaron effect in dilute GaAs:N
The magnetic-field dependence of the energy spectrum of GaAs doped with
nitrogen impurities is investigated. Our theoretical model is based on the
phenomenological Band Anticrossing Model (BAC) which we extended in order to
include magnetic field and electron - phonon interaction. Due to the highly
localized nature of the nitrogen state, we find that the energy levels are very
different from those of pure GaAs. The polaron correction results in a lower
cyclotron resonance energy as compared to pure GaAs. The magneto-absorption
spectrum exhibits series of asymmetric peaks close to the cyclotron energy
Neutral-Donor-Bound-Exciton Complexes in ZnO Crystals
Neutral-donor–bound-exciton transitions have been observed in ZnO. The isolated neutral donors are made up of defect pair complexes. The neutral-donor nature of these pair complexes was determined from magneticfield measurements and from two-electron transitions. Excited states of the neutral-donor bound excitons were observed in the form of rotator states analogous to rotational states of the H2 molecule
Precision determination of band offsets in strained InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells by C-V-profiling and Schroedinger-Poisson self-consistent simulation
The results of measurements and numerical simulation of charge carrier
distribution and energy states in strained quantum wells In_xGa_{1-x}As/GaAs
(0.06 < x < 0.29) by C-V-profiling are presented. Precise values of conduction
band offsets for these pseudomorphic QWs have been obtained by means of
self-consistent solution of Schroedinger and Poisson equations and following
fitting to experimental data. For the conduction band offsets in strained
In_xGa_{1-x}As/GaAs - QWs the expression DE_C(x) = 0.814x - 0.21x^2 has been
obtained.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures, RevTeX
Energy levels in polarization superlattices: a comparison of continuum strain models
A theoretical model for the energy levels in polarization superlattices is
presented. The model includes the effect of strain on the local
polarization-induced electric fields and the subsequent effect on the energy
levels. Two continuum strain models are contrasted. One is the standard strain
model derived from Hooke's law that is typically used to calculate energy
levels in polarization superlattices and quantum wells. The other is a
fully-coupled strain model derived from the thermodynamic equation of state for
piezoelectric materials. The latter is more complete and applicable to strongly
piezoelectric materials where corrections to the standard model are
significant. The underlying theory has been applied to AlGaN/GaN superlattices
and quantum wells. It is found that the fully-coupled strain model yields very
different electric fields from the standard model. The calculated intersubband
transition energies are shifted by approximately 5 -- 19 meV, depending on the
structure. Thus from a device standpoint, the effect of applying the
fully-coupled model produces a very measurable shift in the peak wavelength.
This result has implications for the design of AlGaN/GaN optical switches.Comment: Revtex
- …