GaAs technology advantage
Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a semiconductor that has some electrical
properties that are superior to silicon’s. It has higher saturated electron velocity
and higher electron mobility, allowing it to function at much higher
frequencies. GaAs devices generate less noise than silicon devices. Also,
they can be operated at higher power levels than the equivalent silicon device
because they have higher breakdown voltages. These properties make
GaAs circuitry ideal for mobile phones, satellite communications, microwave
point-to-point links, and radar systems. However, high fabrication
costs and high power consumption have made GaAs circuits unable to compete
with silicon CMOS circuits in most applications.