Infrastructure for noise characterization of sub- 100nm MOSFETs at microwave frequencies

本提案要求（a）升级现有的4端口性能网络分析仪（PNA-X），使其具有微波噪声测量能力，以及（B）增强现有的自动调谐器系统（ATS），使其与该4端口PNA-X一起工作。这些重要的升级增强了半导体器件中高频（HF）噪声的研究计划，特别是对于亚100纳米金属氧化物半导体场效应晶体管（MOSFET），从器件表征到低噪声，射频（RF）和/或高速集成电路（IC）设计。该研究计划的重点是开发新的高频噪声测量系统，创新的噪声表征技术，准确和基于物理的器件模型，以及用于低功耗，低噪声应用的新型RF和/或高速IC。这些新技术具有相当大的附带活动潜力，其经济影响怎么强调都不过分。将尽一切努力充分利用研究成果进行商业化，产生经济效益，从而推动加拿大经济。将开发的新技术的商业化预计将通过专利和向工业研究伙伴转让技术来实现。研究结果的潜在用户包括与半导体制造、微电子和电信行业相关的制造商。此外，将与工业伙伴合作，广泛使用所要求的基础设施，目的是赋予他们竞争优势，这对在目前的经济情况下脱颖而出至关重要。最后，所要求的基础设施将被用来创建一个基本的研究和培训环境，这是适当的传授必要的技能，以高素质的人员（HQP），符合学术界或加拿大微电子和电信行业在高频器件特性和电路级测试领域的需求。该基础设施将吸引世界各地有才华和经验的研究人员和HQP，并将他们留在加拿大。

This proposal is to request (a) an upgrade for an existing 4-port performance network analyzer (PNA-X) to have the microwave noise measurement capability, and (b) an enhancement for an existing Automatic Tuner System (ATS) to work with this 4-port PNA-X. These crucial upgrades enhance the research program in the investigation of high-frequency (HF) noise in semiconductor devices, especially for sub-100nm Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), from device characterization to low-noise, radio-frequency (RF) and/or high-speed integrated circuit (IC) designs. The emphasis of this research program to be supported by the requested infrastructure is primarily on developing new HF noise measurement systems, innovative noise characterization techniques, accurate and physics-based device models, and novel RF and/or high-speed ICs for low-power, low-noise applications. The economic implications of these novel technologies that have considerable potential for significant spin-off activities cannot be overstated. All efforts will be taken to fully exploit the research results commercially, generate economic benefits, and therefore fuel the Canadian economy. Commercialization of new technologies to be developed is expected to be realized through patents, and transfer of technology to industrial research partners. Potential users of the research results include manufacturers associated with the semiconductor manufacturing, microelectronics, and telecommunication industries. In addition, the requested infrastructure will be used extensively in collaboration with industrial partners, with the objective of empowering them with the competitive edge that is vital to excelling in the present economic scenario. Finally, the requested infrastructure will be used to create an essential research and training environment that is appropriate to impart requisite skills to highly qualified personnel (HQP) that are in line with the needs of academia or Canadian microelectronics and telecommunication industries in the area of HF device characterization and circuit-level testing. The infrastructure will attract talented and experienced researchers and HQP in the world and retain them in Canada.