Evaluating Common Electronic Components and GaN HEMTs Under Cryogenic Conditions

Superconducting motors are a solution to electrifying large scale transport (aviation, rail, shipping) due to their superior power density over conventional electric motors. Cooling a superconducting motor and its power converter using the same cryogenic system provides a unique opportunity to increase the converter’s power density. This paper evaluates how conventional power converter components and emerging Gallium Nitride (GaN) technologies would fare at cryogenic temperatures. It is shown that GaN devices have a significant reduction in conduction losses at cryogenic temperatures. The behaviour of integrated circuits varies depending on device technology (CMOS, BJT, JFET), while temperature variation in capacitors depends on their dielectric material.