www.nanopicoftheday.org
December 13, 2003
Source: Alfred Forchel
References:
Description:
Pictured above is a Y-branch gate aiming a gain to make
use of the "wave character" of electrons. On the top you can see the electron
source. The flow of the electrons can go either to the right or the left drain,
depending on which of the two gates have been activated.
The Q-SWITCH project is aimed at the realization of
semiconductor devices based on electron waveguides with the capability of
low-power fast switching. The electron waveguides consist of a narrow channel
(usually smaller than 100 nm), confined by heterointerfaces. Because of the
small size of the devices, quantum effects, for example, electron interference,
will govern the functionality of these devices. Small dimensions and high
barriers introduce large lateral quantization of electron states, permitting
operation at high temperatures. Device concepts utilizing electron wave
transport in nm-scale waveguides are thus candidates for partial replacement of
CMOS technology at the high performance end.
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