Band structure effects in interband tunnel devices

We report on a calculation of transport in InAs/GaSb/AlSb-based interband tunnel structures using a realistic band structure model. The results are compared with calculations using a two-band model which includes only the lowest conduction band and the light-hole band. We find that for device structures containing GaSb quantum wells, the inclusion of heavy-hole states can introduce additional transmission resonances and substantial hole-mixing effects. These effects are found to have a significant influence on the current–voltage characteristics of interband devices.