REDUCING LOCALIZED HIGH ELECTRIC FIELDS IN PHOTOCONDUCTIVE WIDE BANDGAP SEMICONDUCTORS

摘要

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing a high voltage variable resistor. In one aspect, an optical transconductance variable resistor includes a photoconductive wide bandgap semiconductor material (PWBSM) substrate, whose conduction response to changes in amplitude of incident radiation that is substantially linear throughout a non-saturation region thereof, whereby the material is operable in non-avalanche mode as a variable resistor, and first and second electrodes in contact with the material so that: a first triple junction boundary region is formed between the PWBSM substrate and the first electrode, and a second triple junction boundary region is formed between the PWBSM substrate and the second electrode, and the PWBSM substrate is located within an internal triple junction region formed between the first and second triple junction boundary regions.

主权项

1. A system for producing modulated electrical signals, comprising:
a variable resistor comprising a photoconductive wide bandgap semiconductor material (PWBSM) whose conduction response to changes in amplitude of incident radiation is substantially linear throughout a non-saturation region thereof to enable operation in non-avalanche mode, the variable resistor including a first electrode and a second electrode electrically coupled to opposite ends of the PWBSM via a conformal conductive material between the electrodes and the PWBSM, wherein the conformal conductive material provides a uniform electrical contact over substantially the conducting face of the PWBSM; a modulated radiation source for producing amplitude-modulated radiation with which to direct upon the variable resistor and modulate the conduction response thereof; and a voltage source and an output port, both operably connected to the variable resistor so that an electrical signal produced at the output port by way of the variable resistor is modulated by the variable resistor so as to have a waveform substantially similar to the amplitude-modulated radiation.