SHF: Small: THz surface Wave Based Interconnect Technology for Ultra-fast Data Transfer

数据传输机制的技术进步需要跟上高带宽、百亿亿次计算的指数级增长，这些计算几乎应用于现代生活的各个方面。本项目旨在通过基于太赫兹表面波的非常规但有前途的技术实现高速信息传输，并制定了开发软件机制的计划，以支持新系统的物理设计。许多基于python脚本的应用程序将在拟议的研究期间开发，也将用于交互式工具，帮助K-12学生可视化我们数据驱动的现代科学的本质。将在研究活动期间开发的教育工具，例如书籍、录象、硬件演示，将分发给其他研究和教育界以及一般公众。高速电子领域的大型研究团体将从这个项目中整体受益，因为相应的成果将通过期刊和会议传达给他们。该项目涉及开发太赫兹欺骗表面等离子体互连技术：为电子芯片之间的高速节能通信提供数字数据传输的新途径。像所有复杂的系统一样，这项技术也需要开发特殊的计算软件和计算机辅助设计（CAD）工具，以便测试、验证和自动化设计过程，这可以显着节省建立这项技术所需的时间和成本。然而，标准的商业CAD工具主要针对千兆赫电子设备或光学设备进行了优化，从而在太赫兹方面留下了技术差距。由于意识到太赫兹电子的电动力学分析从根本上比其他频率更为重要，该项目旨在采用特殊策略，例如将模块化空间分析与多级仿真方法相结合，以有效分析在太赫兹频谱中运行的通信系统。软件分析工具的开发将与太赫兹速度互连系统的同步硬件实现相匹配，并验证所产生的理论。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

Technological advancements in data transfer mechanisms need to stay abreast of the exponential growth in high-bandwidth, exascale computing used in almost all aspects of modern life. This project aims at high speed information transfer through an unconventional yet promising technology based on terahertz surface wave, and chalk out the plan for developing software machinery in order to support the physical design of the novel system. A number of Python-script based applications that will be developed during the proposed research will be also leveraged for interactive tools that will help K-12 students visualize the essence of our data-driven modern science. The educational tools such as books, videos, hardware demonstrations, which will be developed during the research activities will be disseminated to other research and educational communities and to the general public. The big research community on high-speed electronics will benefit as a whole out of this project, as the corresponding outcomes will be conveyed to them through the journals and conferences. The project involves developing terahertz-spoof surface plasmon interconnect technology: a new pathway for digital data transmission for high speed and energy efficient communication among electronic chips. Like all sophisticated systems, this technology also requires development of special computational software and computer aided design (CAD) tools in order to test, validate, and automate the design process which can remarkably save the time and cost needed to establish this technology. However, the standard commercial CAD tools are optimized for mostly either gigahertz electronics, or optical devices, leaving a technology gap for terahertz. Being aware of the fact that the electro-dynamic analysis of terahertz electronics is fundamentally more critical than other frequencies, the project aims to adopt special strategies, such as implementation of modular space analysis in conjunction with multi-level simulation methodologies for efficient analysis of communication systems operating in terahertz spectrum. The development of software analysis tools will be paired with the simultaneous hardware implementation of the terahertz-speed interconnect system, and validate the theory produced.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.