S-shaped current-voltage characteristics of n+-i-n-n+ graphene field-effect transistors due the Coulomb drag of quasi-equilibrium electrons by ballistic electrons

Abstract

We demonstrate that the injection of the ballistic electrons into the two-dimensional electron plasma in lateral n$^+$-i-n-n$^+$ graphene field-effect transistors (G-FET) might lead to a substantial Coulomb drag of the quasi-equilibrium electrons due the violation of the Galilean and Lorentz invariance in the systems with a linear electron dispersion. This effect can result in the S-shaped current-voltage characteristics (IVs). The resulting negative differential conductivity enables the hysteresis effects and current filamentation that can be used for the implementation of voltage switching devices. Due to a strong nonlinearity of the IVs, the G-FETs can be used for an effective frequency multiplication and detection of terahertz radiation.