Electrical, spectral, and chemical properties of 1.8 MeV proton irradiated AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures as a function of proton fluence

We have characterized high-electron mobility transistors and corresponding unprocessed material as a function of 1.8 MeV proton fluence. Electrical data shows degradation of the electrical contacts at low fluences (10/sup 11/-10/sup 14/ p/sup +//cm/sup 2/) and degradation of the channel properties for higher fluences. In conjunction with the electrical data, cathodoluminescence and secondary-ion mass spectrometry results suggest mechanisms for the higher fluence degradation.