EAGER: Software Development for Simulation and Optimization of Nanoscale Integrated Circuits

EAGER项目的重点是：-用于由量子隧穿器件（如共振隧穿二极管（RTD）和量子点）组成的电路的多级仿真工具。- 利用这些工具设计新的集成电路，（基于RTD的设计）和纳米级（0维RTD或量子点，基于QD的设计）。整个研究项目将分为两个不同的任务：任务-1：RTD结构的反向合成，以优化整体电路性能;以及任务-2：基于RTD和量子点的集成电路的设计、制造和仿真。美国国家纳米技术倡议计划预测，到2015年，纳米技术市场将增长到100亿美元，集成纳米电子学和纳米系统有望在十年内取得重大商业进展。然而，目前采用它们的主要障碍之一是缺乏用于研究它们的特性，并帮助它们的设计，模拟，优化和与外围系统的交互的集成的，多层次的软件。2005年国际半导体技术路线图（ITRS）确定的此类软件的许多理想功能和特性是该项目的组成部分？本计画发展理论与原型软体，以协助量子隧穿元件与传统元件组成之电路之多层次设计、模拟与最佳化。为了将电路设计人员与器件操作中的量子物理传输细节隔离开来，该项目开发了一个Q-Device Model模块，该模块与QSPICE一起操作，以便在反向合成方法中实现系统级优化。该项目的研究可能产生以下更广泛的影响：- 新的和有效的纳米电路和纳米架构，以补充和补充现有的应用和产品，- 国际教育方法学-对下一代电路工程师进行纪律培训，然后他们将有能力将在这种新模式中获得的原理和技能转移到更进一步的领域。- 通过扫描电子显微镜展示自组装纳米线的生长和原子串的彩色图像的视听材料剪辑，以激发高中和社区大学学生以及整个社区的兴奋，-促进女性和少数民族学生攻读电气和计算机工程博士学位课程，以及理论、模拟和实验之间的合作，学术界与美国工业界和国际机构之间的合作。

This EAGER project is focused on:- Multi-level simulation tools for circuits consisting of quantum tunneling devices such as resonant tunneling diode (RTDs) and quantum dots. - The design of new integrated circuits using these tools both at mesoscale (RTD-based design) and at nanoscale (0-dimensional RTD- or quantum dot, QD-based design).The overall research project will be divided into two different tasks: task-1: Reverse Synthesis of RTD structures in order to optimize the overall circuit performance; and, task-2: Design, Fabrication and Simulation of RTD and Quantum Dot based integrated circuits.The US National Nanotechnology Initiative has projected the nanotech market to grow to $1 Trillion by year 2015, and integrated nanoelectronics and nanosystems are expected to make heavy commercial inroad within a decade. However, one of the chief obstacles to their adoption at present is the lack of integrated, multi-level software for studying their properties, and aiding their design, simulation, optimization and interaction with peripheral systems. Many of the desirable features and characteristics of such software, identified by the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) in 2005, are integral to this project?s research work.This project develops the theory and prototype software that will aid in the multilevel design, simulation and optimization of circuits consisting of quantum tunneling devices as well as conventional devices. To insulate circuit designers from the quantum-physical transport details in device operation, this project develops a Q-Device Model module that operates in conjunction with QSPICE so that system-level optimization is possible in a reverse-synthesis approach. This project's research may have the following broader impacts: - new and efficient nanocircuits and nanoarchitectures to supplement and complement existing applications and products, - a new tool for design of such integrated nanoelectronics, - pedagogical methodology in inter-disciplinary training to the next generation of circuit engineers who will then be equipped to transfer principles and skills gained in this new paradigm to still further technologies like molecular electronics, - audio/visual material clips showing the growth of self-assembled nanowires and colorful images of strings of atoms viewed through Scanning Electron Microscopes to stimulate excitement in high-school and community-college students and in the community at large, - promotion of female and minority students in doctoral degree program in electrical and computer engineering, and - collaboration between theory, simulation and experiment, and between academia and US industry, and international institutes.