MICROWAVE INTERACTIONS IN SEMICONDUCTOR MULTIPLE-QUANTUM-WELL HETEROSTRUCTURES UTILIZING A COPLANAR-STRIP GEOMETRY DEVICE

A novel device design utilizing a multiple-quantum-well heterostructur e conduction channel with an oxide-isolated overlying coplanar-strip t ransmission line has been constructed, These devices exhibit negative differential conductance in their dc characteristics for current trans port in the plane of the quantum-well layers, originating from the cha nge in mobility of the heated electrons within the quantum-well struct ure. This device design has permitted the observation of nonlinear con duction properties using these multiple-quantum-well heterostructures at microwave frequencies.