Direction-dependent band nonparabolicity effects on high-field transient electron transport in GaN

Time-resolved electroabsorption measurements on an AlGaN/GaN heterojunction p–i–n diode provide evidence of electron velocity overshoot at fields as low as ∼130 kV/cm for transport in the c-direction of wurtzite GaN. Theoretical Monte Carlo calculations employing a full band structure indicate that at fields below ∼300 kV/cm, this velocity overshoot is associated primarily with band nonparabolicity in the Γ valley related to a negative electron effective mass rather than intervalley transfer. Similar calculations of transport in the basal plane indicate that in this case, both a higher threshold field for velocity overshoot and a lower steady-state velocity at a given field are expected.