AF: Small: (Nano) Tera Hertz (THz) Plasmonic Technologies for the Beyond Moore's Laws Era

为了满足日益增长的信息技术需求，太赫兹（THz）传输和接口技术的发展有望在未来一代VLSI芯片上实现光通信和数字计算的片上融合。该研究设想研究等离子体在具有周期性凹槽阵列的超材料结构中的传播，以开发太赫兹开关/波导技术，这可能会提高超越摩尔定律（BML）时代的计算能力，因为基于电荷的CMOS晶体管无法再按比例缩小。提议的研究涉及EM理论，光子学，SPICE电路仿真和数值分析，包含几个定义其核心知识价值的思想。例如，新的欺骗表面等离子体极子（SSPP）传输机制可以使太赫兹信号在全球互连上传播，色散工程将通过微调材料来调制其折射率来开发动态控制的SSPP三态总线，紧凑的SSPP波导-腔-波导结构可能导致太赫兹数字和混合信号电路。在这个项目中，理论建模和仿真方法将与正在进行的新材料研究相结合，可能会导致太赫兹计算、超快布尔逻辑电路和生物传感器网络的设计。此外，所提出的动态控制SSPP波导能够以太赫兹速度传输信息，有可能用于解决？通信瓶颈?未来多核VLSI芯片的问题。本研究计划的教育目标是为本科生和研究生提供跨学科的培训，使他们能够在竞争激烈的全球市场中应对电子、光子和计算机产品设计的挑战。促进妇女和少数民族学生在电气和计算机工程博士学位课程将在本研究中优先考虑，以实现其教育和社会目标。PI将为当地学校的K-12学生制作电脑动画和彩色图像，从而激发他们对理工科的兴趣。视听资料、教学材料和实验课件将通过互联网提供给其他大学，并将上传到Nano Hub网站。

To meet the ever increasing demands of Information Technology, the development of terahertz (THz) transmission and interface technology is expected to bring about on-chip convergence of optical communication and digital computing in the future-generation VLSI chips. The proposed research envisages studying Plasmon propagation through meta-material structures with periodic array of grooves in order to develop THz switch/waveguide technology which may enhance the computational capabilities in the Beyond-Moore's-Law (BML) era when charge-based CMOS transistors cannot be scaled down anymore.The proposed research involving EM theory, photonics, SPICE circuit simulation, and numerical analysis, encompasses several ideas that define its core intellectual merits. For example, new spoof surface Plasmon polar ton (SSPP) transport mechanism may enable THz signal propagation on global interconnect, dispersion engineering will develop dynamically-controlled SSPP tri-state buses by fine tuning materials to modulate their refractive index, and compact SSPP wave-guide-cavity-waveguide structures may lead to THz digital and mixed-signal circuits. Theoretical modeling and simulation methods to be developed in this project in conjunction with concomitant on-going research in new materials may potentially lead to the design of THz computing, ultrafast Boolean logic circuitry, and biological sensor networks. Furthermore, the proposed dynamically-controlled SSPP waveguide capable of transmitting information at THz speed can potentially be adopted to solve the ?communication bottleneck? problem in future multicore VLSI chips. The educational objectives of this research project will involve interdisciplinary training for undergraduate and graduate students, thereby enabling them to meet the challenges of electronic, photonic and computer product design in a fiercely competitive global market. Promotion of women and minority students in the doctoral degree program in electrical and computer engineering will be given high priority in this research to fulfill its education and societal objectives. The PI will develop computer animation and colorful images for K-12 students in local schools thereby stimulating their interest in Science and Engineering. The audio visuals, instruction materials, and laboratory courseware will be made available to other universities through the Internet and will be uploaded at the Nano Hub website.