SHF: SMALL: A Novel Algorithm for Automated Synthesis of Passive, Causal, and Stable Models for Optical Interconnects

随着大数据和物联网的爆炸式增长，以及对高性能计算、移动性、安全性和高保真体验的需求不断增长，对高带宽和低损耗互连技术的需求日益增加，这些技术可以实现跨芯片的高效数据传输。光纤及其用于高带宽数据传输的显著容量在电信行业中是众所周知的，并且在其长距离互连网络中被广泛利用。缩小光学互连以适应纳米级硅芯片显然有利于实现高带宽的片上数据传输-然而，主要障碍是缺乏用于模拟光学互连结构的准确和有效的可计算随机电磁模型，所述光学互连结构由多个紧密耦合的纳米级绝缘体上硅（SOI）波导组成，所述波导承载信息信号（即，太赫兹电磁波）。本提案的总体目标是开发用于软件工具的算法，以基于呈现随机表面粗糙度的SOI波导执行3维（3-D）纳米级光互连的设计、分析和优化。该项目的总体教育组成部分是利用开发的模型和软件：（1）开发新的研究生课程，（2）为本科生课程开发互动学习对象和实验室活动，以及（3）激发本科生对科学的兴趣，并招募和指导包括妇女和少数群体在内的各种学生群体。该项目团队将开发光互连设计工具（OIDT）软件，其输入包括：（1）表示多端口光互连系统的物理描述的指定三维几何形状，（2）SOI波导的表面粗糙度的随机分布，以及（3）波导材料的电特性。OIDT将自动合成两种类型的电气模型：（1）频域中用于互连设计优化的网络散射参数，以及（2）时域中用于无源互连的时序分析和信号/电源完整性分析的稳定、无源和因果SPICE等效电路模型，集成有源非线性驱动器和组件。拟议的基于Python的软件包可以单独使用，也可以集成到现有的计算机辅助设计（CAD）工具和设计流程中，以促进设计自动化，以及用于各种应用的先进微电子技术的研究和开发，包括计算，通信，能源，安全，传感，健康等。促进和促进（国际）光学器件研究。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With the explosive growth of Big Data and Internet of Things, and the ever-growing demand for high-performance computing, mobility, security, and high-fidelity experiences, there is an increasing need for high-bandwidth and low-loss interconnect technologies that enable efficient data transfer across the chip. The optical fiber and its significant capacity for high-bandwidth data transfer are well-known in the telecommunications industry, and widely exploited in their long-distance network of interconnects. Scaling down optical interconnects to fit in nano-scale silicon chips would clearly be advantageous for achieving high-bandwidth data transfer on-chip -- however, a major hurdle is the dearth of accurate and efficient computable stochastic electromagnetic models for simulation of optical interconnect structures comprised of multiple tightly-coupled nano-scale silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wave-guides that carry information signals (i.e., TeraHertz electromagnetic waves) across on-chip transmitters and receivers. The overall goal of this proposal is to develop algorithms for a software tool to perform the design, analysis, and optimization of 3-dimensional (3-D) nano-scale optical interconnects based on SOI wave-guides exhibiting random surface roughness. The overall educational components of this project are to leverage the developed models and software to: (1) develop new graduate courses, (2) develop interactive learning objects and lab-based activities for undergraduate courses, and (3) stimulate undergraduate students' interest in science, and recruit and mentor diverse groups of students including women and minority groups. The project team will develop the Optical Interconnect Designer Tool (OIDT) software, of which the input is comprised of: (1) the specified 3-D geometry representing the physical description of the multi-port optical interconnect system, (2) the random distribution for surface roughness of SOI wave-guide, and (3) the wave-guide material's electrical properties. The OIDT will autonomously synthesize two types of electrical models: (1) network scattering parameters for design optimization of the interconnect, in the frequency-domain, and (2) stable, passive, and causal SPICE equivalent circuit models for timing analysis and signal/power integrity analysis of the passive interconnect, integrated with active non-linear drivers and components, in the time-domain. The proposed Python-based software package may be used stand-alone, or integrated into existing computer aided design (CAD) tools and design-flows to facilitate design automation, and research and development of advanced microelectronics for a variety of applications including computing, communications, energy, security, sensing, health, etc. The numerical program will be hosted on GitHub as an open-source project, to facilitate and promote (inter)national optical device research. The education component expands public's scientific literacy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.