Title :
Ultrafast pulse generation in photoconductive switches
Author :
Keil, U.D. ; Dykaar, D.R.
Author_Institution :
Mikroelektronik Centre, Tech. Univ., Lyngby, Denmark
fDate :
9/1/1996 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Carrier and field dynamics in photoconductive switches are investigated by electrooptic sampling and voltage-dependent reflectivity measurements. We show that the nonuniform field distribution due to the two-dimensional nature of coplanar photoconductive switches, in combination with the large difference in the mobilities of holes and electrons, determine the pronounced polarity dependence. Our measurements indicate that the pulse generation mechanism is a rapid voltage breakdown across the photoconductive switch and not a local field breakdown
Keywords :
carrier mobility; dynamics; high-speed optical techniques; photoconducting switches; reflectivity; carrier dynamics; coplanar photoconductive switches; electron mobility; electrooptic sampling; field dynamics; hole mobility; local field breakdown; nonuniform field distribution; photoconductive switch; photoconductive switches; polarity dependence; pulse generation; rapid voltage breakdown; two-dimensional nature; ultrafast pulse generation; voltage-dependent reflectivity measurements; Charge carrier processes; Dielectric breakdown; Electron mobility; Photoconductivity; Pulse generation; Pulse measurements; Reflectivity; Sampling methods; Switches; Voltage;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
