MULTIPLE SELF-CONSISTENT SOLUTIONS AT ZERO-BIAS AND MULTIPLE CONDUCTION CURVES IN QUANTUM TUNNELING DIODES INCORPORATING N--N+-N- SPACER LAYERS

We report the existence of multiple self-consistent solutions to the coupled Schrodinger and Poisson equations for diodes that combine a tunneling heterostructure with an unusual N--N+-N- spacer layer scheme. The solutions give rise to multiple, distinct current-voltage curves that extend from zero bias. Within the single electron coherent tunneling model, we find four distinct self-consistent solutions even at zero bias in a symmetric device based on a double-barrier quantum-well tunneling structure.