Introduction to Silicon Compilation

Inexorable progress in device scaling has given rise to obvious increases in circuit complexity. There is the conjecture that the level of complexity in hardware designs is akin to the level of complexity associated with large software systems. If this is the case, then it follows that the design methods and expertise of systems analysts could be brought to bear on the complexity problems associated with large designs in silicon. Already there is evidence that structured hardware design, analogous to structured programming, is emerging in design philosophies that emphasize wiring management and hierarchical design development with regular structures [1]. However, if the expertise of the personnel in the software world is to be applied to silicon implementations of systems then there must be mechanisms that allow their participation in the design process. This could most effectively be achieved by allowing them to write programs which, when compiled, yield code that produces manufacturing data for silicon parts. Thus, taking a macroscopic view, there is a need to provide design tools that take a completely textual description of a design and translate it to layout data

Silicon compilation

Silicon compilation is a term used for many different purposes. In this paper we define silicon compilation as a mapping from some higher level description into layout. We define the basic issues in structural and behavioral silicon compilation and some possible solutions to those issues. Finally, we define the concept of an intelligent silicon compiler in which the compiler evaluates the quality of the generated design and attempts to improve it if it is not satisfactory

Survey of partitioning techniques in silicon compilation

In the silicon compilation design process, partitioning is usually the first problem to be investigated because partitioning algorithms form the backbone of many algorithms including: system synthesis, processor synthesis, floorplanning, and placement. In this survey, several partitioning techniques will be examined. In addition, this paper will review the partitioning algorithms used by synthesis systems at different design levels

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS): search for antimatter and dark matter on the International Space Station

The AMS is a state of the art detector for extraterrestrial study of antimatter, matter and missing matter. After a precursor flight on STS91 in May 1998, AMS will be installed on the International Space Station where it will operate for three years. In this paper the AMS experiment is described and is physics potential reviewed.Comment: Invited talk to S. Miniato 1997, to be published on N.I.M., 8 pages 7 figures, LATEX, espcvc2.sty include

2-16 mu m spectroscopy of micron-sized enstatite (Mg,Fe)(2)Si2O6 silicates from primitive chondritic meteorites

We present mid-infrared spectra from individual enstatite silicate grains separated from primitive type 3 chondritic meteorites. The 2-16 mu m transmission spectra were taken with microspectroscopic Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques as part of a project to produce a data base of infrared spectra from minerals of primitive meteorites for comparison with astronomical spectra. In general, the wavelength of enstatite bands increases with the proportion of Fe. However, the wavelengths of the strong En(100) bands at 10.67 and 11.67 decrease with increasing Fe content. The 11.67-mu m band exhibits the largest compositional wavelength shift (twice as large as any other). Our fits of the linear dependence of the pyroxene peaks indicate that crystalline silicate peaks in the 10-mu m spectra of Herbig AeBe stars, HD 179218 and 104237, are matched by pyroxenes of En(90-92) and En(78-80), respectively. If these simplistic comparisons with the astronomical grains are correct, then the enstatite pyroxenes seen in these environments are more Fe-rich than are the forsterite (Fo(100)) grains identified in the far-infrared which are found to be Mg end-member grains. This differs from the general composition of type 3 chondritic meteoritic grains in which the pyroxenes are more Mg-rich than are the olivines from the same meteorite

LHCb detector status and commissioning

The LHCb detector status and commissioning is presented.Comment: HCP06 proceedings for reference