A review of selected topics in physics based modeling for tunnel field-effect transistors

The research field on tunnel-FETs (TFETs) has been rapidly developing in the last ten years, driven by the quest for a new electronic switch operating at a supply voltage well below 1 V and thus delivering substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of integrated circuits. This paper reviews several aspects related to physics based modeling in TFETs, and shows how the description of these transistors implies a remarkable innovation and poses new challenges compared to conventional MOSFETs. A hierarchy of numerical models exist for TFETs covering a wide range of predictive capabilities and computational complexities. We start by reviewing seminal contributions on direct and indirect band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) modeling in semiconductors, from which most TCAD models have been actually derived. Then we move to the features and limitations of TCAD models themselves and to the discussion of what we define non-self-consistent quantum models, where BTBT is computed with rigorous quantum-mechanical models starting from frozen potential profiles and closed-boundary Schr\uf6dinger equation problems. We will then address models that solve the open-boundary Schr\uf6dinger equation problem, based either on the non-equilibrium Green's function NEGF or on the quantum-transmitting-boundary formalism, and show how the computational burden of these models may vary in a wide range depending on the Hamiltonian employed in the calculations. A specific section is devoted to TFETs based on 2D crystals and van der Waals hetero-structures. The main goal of this paper is to provide the reader with an introduction to the most important physics based models for TFETs, and with a possible guidance to the wide and rapidly developing literature in this exciting research field

Generalized discrete Fourier transform with non-linear phase : theory and design

Constant modulus transforms like discrete Fourier transform (DFT), Walsh transform, and Gold codes have been successfully used over several decades in various engineering applications, including discrete multi-tone (DMT), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and code division multiple access (CDMA) communications systems. Among these popular transforms, DFT is a linear phase transform and widely used in multicarrier communications due to its performance and fast algorithms. In this thesis, a theoretical framework for Generalized DFT (GDFT) with nonlinear phase exploiting the phase space is developed. It is shown that GDFT offers sizable correlation improvements over DFT, Walsh, and Gold codes. Brute force search algorithm is employed to obtain orthogonal GDFT code sets with improved correlations. Design examples and simulation results on several channel types presented in the thesis show that the proposed GDFT codes, with better auto and cross-correlation properties than DFT, lead to better bit-error-rate performance in all multi-carrier and multi-user communications scenarios investigated. It is also highlighted how known constant modulus code families such as Walsh, Walsh-like and other codes are special solutions of the GDFT framework. In addition to theoretical framework, practical design methods with computationally efficient implementations of GDFT as enhancements to DFT are presented in the thesis. The main advantage of the proposed method is its ability to design a wide selection of constant modulus orthogonal code sets based on the desired performance metrics mimicking the engineering .specs of interest. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a leading candidate to be adopted for high speed 4G wireless communications standards due to its high spectral efficiency, strong resistance to multipath fading and ease of implementation with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithms. However, the main disadvantage of an OFDM based communications technique is of its high PAPR at the RF stage of a transmitter. PAPR dominates the power (battery) efficiency of the radio transceiver. Among the PAPR reduction methods proposed in the literature, Selected Mapping (SLM) method has been successfully used in OFDM communications. In this thesis, an SLM method employing GDFT with closed form phase functions rather than fixed DFT for PAPR reduction is introduced. The performance improvements of GDFT based SLM PAPR reduction for various OFDM communications scenarios including the WiMAX standard based system are evaluated by simulations. Moreover, an efficient implementation of GDFT based SLM method reducing computational cost of multiple transform operations is forwarded. Performance simulation results show that power efficiency of non-linear RF amplifier in an OFDM system employing proposed method significantly improved

A review of selected topics in physics based modeling for tunnel field-effect transistors

The research field on tunnel-FETs (TFETs) has been rapidly developing in the last ten years, driven by the quest for a new electronic switch operating at a supply voltage well below 1 V and thus delivering substantial improvements in the energy efficiency of integrated circuits. This paper reviews several aspects related to physics based modeling in TFETs, and shows how the description of these transistors implies a remarkable innovation and poses new challenges compared to conventional MOSFETs. A hierarchy of numerical models exist for TFETs covering a wide range of predictive capabilities and computational complexities. We start by reviewing seminal contributions on direct and indirect band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) modeling in semiconductors, from which most TCAD models have been actually derived. Then we move to the features and limitations of TCAD models themselves and to the discussion of what we define non-self-consistent quantum models, where BTBT is computed with rigorous quantum-mechanical models starting from frozen potential profiles and closed-boundary Schr\uf6dinger equation problems. We will then address models that solve the open-boundary Schr\uf6dinger equation problem, based either on the non-equilibrium Green's function NEGF or on the quantum-transmitting-boundary formalism, and show how the computational burden of these models may vary in a wide range depending on the Hamiltonian employed in the calculations. A specific section is devoted to TFETs based on 2D crystals and van der Waals hetero-structures. The main goal of this paper is to provide the reader with an introduction to the most important physics based models for TFETs, and with a possible guidance to the wide and rapidly developing literature in this exciting research field

One-dimensional ballistic transport with FLAPW Wannier functions

We present an implementation of the ballistic Landauer-B\"uttiker transport scheme in one-dimensional systems based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FLAPW) method. In order to calculate the conductance within the Green's function method we map the electronic structure from the extended states of the FLAPW calculation to Wannier functions which constitute a minimal localized basis set. Our approach benefits from the high accuracy of the underlying FLAPW calculations allowing us to address the complex interplay of structure, magnetism, and spin-orbit coupling and is ideally suited to study spin-dependent electronic transport in one-dimensional magnetic nanostructures. To illustrate our approach we study ballistic electron transport in non-magnetic Pt monowires with a single stretched bond including spin-orbit coupling, and in ferromagnetic Co monowires with different collinear magnetic alignment of the electrodes with the purpose of analysing the magnetoresistance when going from tunneling to the contact regime. We further investigate spin-orbit scattering due to an impurity atom. We consider two configurations: a Co atom in a Pt monowire and vice versa. In both cases, the spin-orbit induced band mixing leads to a change of the conductance upon switching the magnetization direction from along the chain axis to perpendicular to it. The main contribution stems from ballistic spin-scattering for the magnetic Co impurity in the non-magnetic Pt monowire and for the Pt scatterer in the magnetic Co monowire from the band formed from states with $d_{xy}$ and $d_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital symmetry. We quantify this effect by calculating the ballistic anisotropic magnetoresistance which displays values up to as much as 7% for ballistic spin-scattering and gigantic values of around 100% for the Pt impurity in the Co wire

Coastal Geomorphology of the Beqa and Yanuca Islands, South Pacific Ocean, and Its Significance for the Tectonic History of the Vatulele-Beqa Ridge

Data referring to elevations of emerged shoreline indicators along the coasts of Beqa and Yanuca islands in southern Fiji were collected and indicate the presence of former mean sea levels at elevations (and shoreline names) of 0.96 m (MUAI), 1.93 m (BULl), 2.63 m (MUA2), 4.32 m (MUA3), 5.94 m (MUA4), and 7.79 m (MUA5) above present mean sea level. No dates for shoreline formation or emergence are available directly although age is believed to increase with increasing elevation. Investigations of the Beqa lagoon floor and comparison of shoreline levels between eastern Beqa, western Beqa, Yanuca, and Vatulele island (at the western end of the Vatulele-Beqa Ridge) suggest that downfaulting along faults and grabens trending a little west of north has occurred both during and since the time of shoreline emergence. Uplift related perhaps to either compression of the area between the Kadavu Trench (Hunter Fracture Zone) to the south and the Fiji Fracture Zone to the north or the renewal of northward underplating along the Kadavu Trench is believed to be responsible for shoreline emergence, which was probably contemporary along the whole Vatulele-Beqa Ridge and occurred during-the middle and late Quaternary