Numerical simulation of the smooth quantum hydrodynamic model for semiconductor devices Original Research Article

An extension of the classical hydrodynamic model for semiconductor devices to include quantum transport effects is reviewed. This “smooth” quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) model is derived specifically to handle in a mathematically rigorous way the discontinuities in the classical potential energy which occur at heterojunction barriers in quantum semiconductor devices. A conservative upwind discretization of the one-dimensional (1D) steady-state smooth QHD equations is outlined. Smooth QHD model simulations of the resonant tunneling diode are presented which exhibit enhanced negative differential resistance when compared with simulations using the original O(ℏ2) QHD model.