A tested design tool for multi-barrier resonant tunnelling devices with high frequency applications

Three self-consistent quantum mechanical design tools are presented that can predict the relative energies of quasi-confined energy levels as a function of bias to better than 3 meV. Results from this model are compared with experimental current-voltage data obtained from a series of GaAs-Al/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 67/As triple barrier resonant tunnelling structures. Three features are explained using this model. Activation energies between 10 and 29 meV were obtained for a thermally-activated tunnelling peak with experimental and theoretical values agreeing to within 2 meV. Other features also occur at biases close to theoretical predictions.