A transferable full-band Monte Carlo framework for complex alloy avalanche photodiodes

Abstract

We present a physics-based multiscale full-band Monte Carlo framework for modeling avalanche multiplication and excess noise in complex alloy avalanche photodiodes (APDs), demonstrated on Al$_{0.7}$InAsSb as a representative quaternary system. The framework links atomistic material structure to device-level avalanche statistics: an environment-dependent $sp^3d^5s^\ast$ tight-binding calculation resolves the full conduction- and valence-band structure of the random- or digital-alloy configuration -- including $Γ$, X, and L valley ordering, non-parabolicity, anisotropy, and spin-orbit-induced valence-band splitting -- and supplies the band-structure inputs for stochastic high-field transport. A central element of the framework is a physics-derived treatment of alloy-disorder scattering, in which the quaternary disorder potential is constructed from atomic valence differences, covalent radii, and Thomas--Fermi screening through a composition-weighted decomposition into binary contributions, complemented by composition-interpolated polar-optical, acoustic, intervalley-phonon, impurity, and impact-ionization models. Because every material-dependent input is generated from the atomic composition and configuration by the same well-defined procedure, the framework transfers without structural modification to arbitrary zinc-blende ternary and quaternary alloys. Applied to a \SI{1}{\micro\meter} Al$_{0.7}$InAsSb p-i-n APD, the framework reproduces the measured gain and excess-noise characteristics with only the impact-ionization softness parameters calibrated. The approach provides a documented, reproducible route for analyzing and designing complex alloy APDs in which band structure, disorder, and scattering physics jointly determine gain and ionization statistics.