Theoretical Study of Resonant Tunneling Diodes with Impurity Ions Located in Wells

Transmission characteristics of resonant tunneling diodes (RTDs) with impurity ions in wells are analyzed using a two-dimensional model. The impurity ions are found to result in the transmission energy spectrum having a double-peak shape with intrinsic and impurity-assisted peaks. The appearance of the impurity-assisted peak explains previously reported experimental observations. The height of the impurity-assisted peak depends on the concentration of impurity ions in the well. Impurity ions in the well may broaden the intrinsic peak width, which should be taken into consideration in the estimation of the electron coherence using the resonance energy width of RTDs.