Time- and space-dependent electric response of Ovonic devices

A time- and space-dependent 1D model including the self-consistent solution of the Poisson equation is presented to study the electric response of nanometer Ovonic samples. The model accounts for the main features of the relevant microscopic processes occurring inside the material, and is easily incorporated in commercial device-simulation tools. Numerical results are presented and discussed for Ovonic samples of different lengths and material parameters, and successfully compared to recent optimized experimental results for AgInTeSb. The analysis indicates a very short intrinsic response time of Ovonic devices, of the order of tens of ps and a minimum device length of the order of 5–10 nm, in order to guarantee the device functionality. Tests on the sensitivity of the model on some physical parameters have also been carried out.