Systematic characterization of Cl2 reactive ion etchingfor improved ohmics in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Pre-metal-deposition reactive ion etching (RIE) was performed on an Al_0.3Ga_0.7N/AlN/GaN heterostructure in order to improve the metal-to-semiconductor contact resistance. An optimum AlGaN thickness for minimizing contact resistance was determined. An initial decrease in contact resistance with etching time was explained in terms of removal of an oxide surface layer and/or by an increase in tunnelling current with the decrease of the AlGaN thickness. The presence of a dissimilar surface layer was confirmed by an initial nonuniform etch depth rate. An increase in contact resistance for deeper etches was experienced. The increase was related to depletion of the two-dimensional (2-D) electron gas (2-DEG) under the ohmics. Etch depths were measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The contact resistance decreased from about 0.45 Ωmm for unetched ohmics to a minimum of 0.27 Ωmm for 70 Å etched ohmics. The initial thickness of the AlGaN layer was 250 Å. The decrease in contact resistance, without excessive complications on device processing, supports RIE etching as a viable solution to improve ohmic contact resistance in AlGaN/GaN HEMTs     

Reduced and differential parallel interference cancellation forCDMA systems

Since code division multiple access systems in multipath environments suffer from multiple access interference (MAI), multiuser detection schemes should be used in the receivers. Parallel interference cancellation (PIC) is a promising method to combat MAI due to its relatively low computational complexity and good performance. It is shown that the complexity of PIC is still high for realistic scenarios in terms of the symbol rate, the number of users, spreading gain, and multipath components. However, two novel methods are introduced to reduce significantly the complexity without sacrificing performance. The first approach, called reduced PIC, takes advantage of the composition of the interference to concentrate interference cancellation only on significant terms. The second approach, called differential PIC, exploits the multistage character of PIC to avoid unnecessary double calculations of certain terms in consecutive stages. It is shown that a combination of both approaches leads to a performance very close to the single-user bound whereas the complexity can be kept on the order of the conventional RAKE receiver     

Deformation behavior of HCP Ti-Al alloy single crystals

Single crystals of Ti-Al alloys containing 1.4, 2.9, 5, and 6.6 pct Al (by weight) were oriented for 〈a〉 slip on either basal or prism planes or loaded parallel along the c-axis to enforce a nonbasal deformation mode. Most of the tests were conducted in compression and at temperatures between 77 and 1000 K. Trace analysis of prepolished surfaces enabled identification of the twin or slip systems primarily responsible for deformation. Increasing the deformation temperature, Al content, or both, acted to inhibit secondary twin and slip systems, thereby increasing the tendency toward strain accommodation by a single slip system having the highest resolved stress. In the crystals oriented for basal slip, transitions from twinning to multiple slip and, finally, to basal slip occurred with increasing temperature in the lower-Al-content alloys, whereas for Ti-6.6 pct Al, only basal slip was observed at all temperatures tested. A comparison of the critically resolved shear stress (CRSS) values for basal and prism slip as a function of Al content shows that prism slip is favored at room temperature in pure Ti, but the stress to activate these two systems becomes essentially equal in the Ti-6.6 pct Al crystals over a wide range of temperatures. Compression tests on crystals oriented so that the load was applied parallel to the c-axis showed extensive twinning in lower Al concentrations and 〈c+a〉 slip at higher Al concentrations, with a mixture of 〈c+a〉 slip and twinning at intermediate compositions. A few tests also were conducted in tension, with the load applied parallel to the c-axis. In these cases, twinning was observed, and the resolved shear for plastic deformation by twinning was much lower that that for 〈c+a〉 slip observed in compression loading. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Defect Properties and Mechanical Behavior of HCP Metals and Alloys” at the TMS Annual Meeting, February 11–15, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the auspices of the following ASM committees: Materials Science and Critical Technology Sector, Structural Materials Division, Electronic, Magnetic & Photonic Materials Division, Chemistry & Physics of Materials Committee, Joint Nuclear Materials Committee, and Titanium Committee.     

Effects of seat slope and hip flexion on spinal angles in sitting

Lumbar and thoracic spinal angles of 25 male and 25 female subjects were measured in four sitting postures, with standing angles used as reference. Subjects sat with either 90 deg or 65 deg of hip flexion on either flat or forward-sloping seats. Lumbar kyphosis was greatest when the flat seat/90-deg posture was adopted and least when the sloping seat/65-deg posture was adopted. The opposite was observed for the thoracic angles, and intermediate results were observed for the other two sitting postures. No statistically significant interactions were observed among seat slope, hip flexion, and subject sex. The findings are discussed with reference to the anatomy of sitting and factors influencing pelvic tilt and the implications for the ergonomic design of chairs.     

Predicting the performance of concrete structures exposed to chemically aggressive environment—Field validation

The behavior of two series of concrete slabs exposed to sulfate-bearing soils was investigated by a numerical model called STADIUM. In addition to the diffusion of ions and moisture, the model also accounts for the effects of dissolution/precipitation reactions on the transport mechanisms. The simulations yielded by the model were compared to the actual degradation of the slabs after 8 years of exposure. The microstructural alterations of concrete resulting from the penetration of magnesium, chloride and sulfate ions were studied by backscatter mode scanning electron microscope observations and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. The comparison of both series of data indicates that the model can reliably predict the various features of the microstructural alterations of concrete.

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Résumé Le comportement de deux séries de dalles sur sol en béton exposées à des sols chimiquement agressifs a été étudié à l'aide d'un code de calcul numérique appelé STADIUM. Ce modèle permet de décrire le transport couplé de l'eau et des ions dans des matériaux poreux non-saturés en prenant en considération l'influence des réactions chimiques. Les résultats des simultations de la dégradation du béton après huit ans d'exposition à des ions chlore, sulfate et magnésium. Les observations ont été réalisées par microscopie électronique à balayage. Des analyses par dispersion des rayons X ont également été effectuées. Les données démontrent clairement que le modèle perment de prédire avec précision le comportement du béton soumis à différents types d'agression chimique.

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Editorial Note Laval University (Canada) is a RILEM Titular Member. Prof. J. Marchand was awarded the 2000 Robert L'Hermite Medal. He is Editor in Chief for Concrete Science and Engineering and Associate Editor for Materials and Structures. He participates in RILEM TC 186-ISA ‘Internal Sulfate attack’.