Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Theses/Dissertations

Integrated circuits

Publication Year

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Reliability Characterization Of A Low-K Dielectric Using Its Magnetoresistance As A Diagnostic Tool, Philip Alister Williams Dec 2021

Reliability Characterization Of A Low-K Dielectric Using Its Magnetoresistance As A Diagnostic Tool, Philip Alister Williams

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The introduction of low dielectric constant materials within the integrated circuit (IC) chip technology industry was a concerted effort to decrease the resistance-capacitance (RC) time delay inherent within the dielectric materials used as insulators. This stems from a demand for greater device density per IC chip and decreased feature sizes but is fast becoming a reliability issue. Concomitant with the demand for decreased feature sizes, also in adherence with Moore’s Law (which states that the number of devices on a die doubles every two years), is a reduction in device speed and performance due to device intra-level interconnection signal delays. …


Statistical And Variational Modeling And Analysis Of Passive Integrated Photonic Devices, Norbert Dinyi Agbodo May 2021

Statistical And Variational Modeling And Analysis Of Passive Integrated Photonic Devices, Norbert Dinyi Agbodo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The success of Si as a platform for photonic devices and the associated availabilityof wafer-scale, ultra-high resolution lithography for Si CMOS has helped lead to the rapid advance of Si-based integrated photonics manufacturing over the past decade. This evolution is nearing the point of integration of Si-based photonics together with Si-CMOS for compact, high speed, high bandwidth, and cost-effective devices. However, due to the sensitive nature of passive and active photonic devices, variations inherent in wafer-based fabrication processes can lead to unacceptable levels of performance variation both within a give die and across a given wafer. Fully understanding the role …


Photonic Grating Coupler Designs For Optical Benching, Eng Wen Ong Jan 2018

Photonic Grating Coupler Designs For Optical Benching, Eng Wen Ong

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Silicon Photonics has been rapidly developing as a field. The primary reason for this is its lower operating costs and faster switching rates for use in big data centres. Instead of microns-wide copper lines to transmit signals, silicon photonic chips use waveguides, usually of silicon or silicon nitride. Photonic signals bypass the issues of resistive-capacitance lag (RC-lag) and resistive-heating encountered by copper lines. Additionally, a single waveguide may transmit multiple signals along different carrier wavelengths.


Magnetoresistance Of A Low-K Dielectric, Brian Thomas Mcgowan Jan 2016

Magnetoresistance Of A Low-K Dielectric, Brian Thomas Mcgowan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Low-k dielectrics have been incorporated into advanced computer chip technologies as a part of the continuous effort to improve computer chip performance. One drawback associated with the implementation of low-k dielectrics is the large leakage current which conducts through the material, relative to silica. Another drawback is that the breakdown voltage of low-k dielectrics is low, relative to silica [1]. This low breakdown voltage makes accurate reliability assessment of the failure mode time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) in low-k dielectrics critical for the successful implementation of these materials. The accuracy with which one can assess this reliability is currently a …