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

为了满足信息技术日益增长的需求，太赫兹（THz）传输和接口技术的发展有望在下一代超大规模集成电路芯片中实现光通信和数字计算的片上融合。该研究计划研究等离子体激元通过具有周期性凹槽阵列的超材料结构的传播，以开发THz开关/波导技术，该技术可能在超越摩尔定律（BML）时代增强计算能力，此时基于电荷的CMOS晶体管不再按比例缩小。该研究计划涉及EM理论，光子学，SPICE电路模拟和数值分析，包含了几个定义其核心知识价值的想法。例如，新的欺骗表面等离子体激元（SSPP）传输机制可以使THz信号在全局互连上传播，色散工程将通过微调材料来调制它们的折射率来开发动态控制的SSPP三态总线，并且紧凑的SSPP波导-腔-波导结构可以导致THz数字和混合信号电路。在这个项目中开发的理论建模和仿真方法，以及伴随的新材料研究，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，建议的动态控制的SSPP波导能够在太赫兹速度传输信息，可以潜在地被采用来解决？沟通瓶颈？未来的多核VLSI芯片。 该研究项目的教育目标将涉及本科生和研究生的跨学科培训，从而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。在电气和计算机工程博士学位课程中，妇女和少数民族学生的促进将在本研究中得到高度重视，以实现其教育和社会目标。PI将为本地学校的K-12学生开发计算机动画和彩色图像，从而激发他们对科学和工程的兴趣。视听材料，教学材料和实验室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.