A Gunn diode is disclosed which comprises a first contact layer (110), a second contact layer (120), and an active layer (130) based on a gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor material having a base surface (132) and a side surface (135) non-parallel thereto. Optionally, related materials such as aluminum indium gallium nitride (AlInGaN) materials may also be used as the active layer. The first contact layer (110) electrically contacts the side surface (135) to form a side contact (115). The second contact layer (120) forms an electrical contact for the base surface (132), so that a maximum of the electric field strength is formed when an electric voltage is applied between the first contact layer (110) and the second contact layer (120) at the side contact (115).

An array of sensor devices, each sensor including a set of semiconducting nanotraces having a width less than about 100 nm is provided. Method for fabricating the arrays is disclosed, providing a top-down approach for large arrays with multiple copies of the detection device in a single processing step. Nanodimensional sensing elements with precise dimensions and spacing to avoid the influence of electrodes are provided. The arrays may be used for multiplex detection of chemical and biomolecular species. The regular arrays may be combined with parallel synthesis of anchor probe libraries to provide a multiplex diagnostic device. Applications for gas phase sensing, chemical sensing and solution phase biomolecular sensing are disclosed.

A photoconductive switch that uses materials that support negative differential mobility, whose operation leverages the pulse compression of a charge could to generate the “on” time of the pulse in combination with the speed of light to generate the “off” time of the pulse, is described. In one example, a method of operating a photoconductive switch, which includes two electrodes and a light absorbing material positioned therebetween, includes selecting a value for one or more parameters comprising a voltage for generation of an electric field, a spot size of a laser pulse, a temporal pulse width of the laser pulse, or an intensity of the laser pulse, wherein the selected value(s) for the one or more parameters enable the switch to operate in a region where the light absorbing material exhibits negative differential mobility, and illuminating the light absorbing material with the laser pulse to generate a charge cloud within the light absorbing material.

Systems and methods for forming a mm wave resonant filter include a lithographically fabricated high Q resonant structure. The resonant structure may include a plurality of cavities, each cavity having a characteristic frequency that defines its passband. A filter may include a plurality of resonant structures, and each resonant structure may include a plurality of cavities. These cavities and filters may be fabricated lithographically.

The invention relates to a Gunn diode comprising a first contact layer (110); a second contact layer (120); an active layer (130) based on a gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor material, said active layer being formed between the first contact layer (110) and the second contact layer (120); a substrate (140) on which the active layer (130) is formed together with the first contact layer (110) and the second contact layer (120); and an optical inlet (150) for a laser (50) in order to facilitate or trigger a charge carrier transfer between extrema (210, 220) of the energy bands of the active layer (130) by means of laser irradiation.

A metal-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-metal (MISIM) device includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer disposed over an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a back electrode disposed over a lower surface of the semiconductor layer opposing the upper surface, and first and second electrodes disposed over the insulating layer and spaced-apart from each other.

A metal-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-metal (MISIM) device includes a semiconductor layer, an insulating layer disposed over an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a back electrode disposed over a lower surface of the semiconductor layer opposing the upper surface, and first and second electrodes disposed over the insulating layer and spaced-apart from each other.

Systems and methods for forming a mm wave resonant filter include a lithographically fabricated high Q resonant structure. The resonant structure may include a plurality of cavities, each cavity having a characteristic frequency that defines its passband. A filter may include a plurality of resonant structures, and each resonant structure may include a plurality of cavities. These cavities and filters may be fabricated lithographically.

An integrated neuron circuit structure comprising at least one thin-film resistor, one Metal Insulator Metal capacitor and one Negative Differential Resistance device.

In fabricating a radio frequency (RF) switch, a phase-change material (PCM) and a heating element, underlying an active segment of the PCM and extending outward and transverse to the PCM, are provided. Lower portions of PCM contacts for connection to passive segments of the PCM are formed, wherein the passive segments extend outward and are transverse to the heating element. Upper portions of the PCM contacts are formed from a lower interconnect metal. Heating element contacts are formed cross-wise to the PCM contacts. The heating element contacts can comprise a top interconnect metal directly connecting with terminal segments of the heating element. The heating element contacts can comprise a top interconnect metal and intermediate metal segments for connecting with the terminal segments of the heating element.