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Abstract

We explore the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for predicting the millimetre-wave (mm-wave) and sub-millimetre-wave (sub-mm-wave) characteristics of double-drift region (DDR) Si IMPATT diodes. The proposed ANN models predict key parameters such as DC, large-signal (L-S) performance, and avalanche noise characteristics across frequencies ranging from 94 to 500 GHz. A dataset derived from self-consistent quantum drift–diffusion (SCQDD) simulations is used to train the ANN models, which accurately capture the influence of structural, doping, and biasing variations. The ANN models showed a significant reduction in computational time, predicting device characteristics in just 4.4–15% of the time required by SCQDD simulations, while maintaining high accuracy. The mean square error (MSE) between ANN predictions and SCQDD simulations for breakdown voltage and power output was observed to be in the order of 10−3 Unit2, indicating excellent predictive performance. The models were validated against experimental data, showing strong agreement in terms of power output, efficiency, and noise characteristics. This work demonstrates that machine learning can effectively replace traditional time-intensive simulations, making it a promising approach for the rapid design and optimization of high-frequency semiconductor devices.

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  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Electronic Materials
  • Machine Learning
  • Semiconductors
  • Technoscience
  • Artificial Intelligence

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Authors and Affiliations

Contributions

P. S. and A. A. carried out the simulations, and prepared the initial draft of the manuscript, S. R. carried out the simulations, and prepared the revised manuscript, A. B. prepared all the figures and graphs, and reviewed the manuscript, R. S. D. reviewed the manuscript and prepared the final draft of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aritra Acharyya.

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Sanyal, P., Ray, S., Acharyya, A. et al. Application of machine learning for predicting the millimetre-wave and sub-millimetre-wave characteristics of avalanche transit time sources. J Comput Electron 24, 137 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10825-025-02382-7

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  • DOI  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10825-025-02382-7

Keywords

  • Machine learning
  • Artificial neural networks (ANN)
  • Millimetre-wave (mm-wave)
  • Sub-millimetre-wave (sub-mm-wave)
  • Avalanche transit time (ATT)
  • IMPATT diodes
  • Large-signal simulation
  • Self-consistent quantum drift-diffusion (SCQDD) model
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