In case you missed it (ICYMI), here are some of the stories that made headlines in the world of cleanrooms and nanotechnology in the past week.
Image: University of the Witwatersrand
Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have developed a method to create better carbon superlattices for quantum electronic device applications. These superlattices are made up of alternating layers of very thin semiconductors, which measure just a few nanometers thick. The layers are so thin that the physics of these devices is governed by quantum mechanics, where electrons behave like waves. In a paradigm shift from conventional electronic devices, exploiting the quantum properties of superlattices holds the promise of developing new technologies. The research group believes this work will have immense importance in developing Carbon-based high-frequency devices.
Semiconductor company Samsung Electronics has started mass production of System-on-Chip products with 10-nanometer FinFET technology, a first for the industry. The new technique uses an advanced 3D transistor structure with additional enhancements in both process technology and design enablement compared to its 14nm predecessor, allowing up to a 30 percent increase in area efficiency with 27-percent higher performance or 40 percent lower power consumption. In order to overcome scaling limitations, cutting edge techniques such as triple-patterning to allow bi-directional routing are also used to retain design and routing flexibility from prior nodes.
Researchers from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo led the development of a quantum socket, representing a significant step towards to the realization of a scalable quantum computer.
Finally, researchers from the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo have created a new extensible wiring technique capable of controlling superconducting quantum bits, representing a significant step towards to the realization of a scalable quantum computer. To control and measure superconducting qubits, the researchers use microwave pulses. The pulses are typically sent from dedicated sources and pulse generators through a network of cables connecting the qubits in the cryostat’s cold environment to the room-temperature electronics. The network of cables required to access the qubits inside the cryostat is a complex infrastructure and until recently has presented a barrier to scaling the quantum computing architecture.
