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Category: computing – Page 28

Revolutionizing 2D Electronics: Freestanding HZO Membranes Unlock High-κ Integration for Next-Gen Transistors

In a significant advancement for nanoelectronics, an international team of researchers from National Chung Hsing University, Kansai University, and National Cheng Kung University has developed a new strategy to integrate freestanding hafnium zirconium oxide (HZO) membranes into 2D field-effect transistors (FETs). This innovation, published in Nature Electronics, promises to overcome one of the main bottlenecks in the adoption of 2D semiconductors: the lack of scalable, high-κ dielectric integration.

Why 2D Semiconductors Need Better Gate Dielectrics

Two-dimensional semiconductors like molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) have long been heralded as successors to silicon, offering exceptional electrical properties at atomically thin dimensions. However, their commercialization in logic devices has stalled due to a critical integration challenge: embedding a gate dielectric that both insulates and enables effective gate control.

Molecular imaging uncovers hidden flaws in plastics used for electronics

A new study uncovers revealing insights into how plastic materials used in electronics are formed, and how hidden flaws in their structure could be limiting their performance.

Conjugated polymers are a type of plastic that conduct electricity and are used in optoelectronics, computing, biosensors, and power generation. The materials are lightweight, low-cost, and can be printed in thin layers onto flexible substrates, making them ideal for next-generation technologies.

An international team of scientists investigated a popular method for making the polymers called aldol condensation, which is praised for being versatile, metal-free, environmentally friendly, and scalable.

Earth’s Gravity Might Be Warping Quantum Mechanics, Say Physicists

Scientists propose a groundbreaking experiment using quantum computers and atomic clocks to test whether gravity alters the fundamental rules of quantum theory. A recent study featured in the journal PRX Quantum reveals how a network of quantum computers equipped with optical clocks can be used t

Comparative Performance Analysis of Femtosecond-Laser-Written Diode-Pumped Pr: LiLuF4 Visible Waveguide Lasers

In crystalline materials, the fabrication of optical waveguides by femtosecond laser irradiation is not as easy as in glasses [7] because, in many cases, it is not possible to produce a refractive index increase, able to directly confine and guide light along a certain trajectory. On the contrary, the most typical situation is that the refractive index of the crystal is decreased by the effect of the high intensity of the laser, but even in those cases it can be used anyway to design efficient waveguides [22].

In our study, we designed and fabricated waveguides with different configurations and geometries in the search for the best performance, helping us to understand the confinement mechanisms in Pr: LLF. The following waveguide types were tested:

Quantum computing occurs naturally in the human brain, study finds

Kurian’s group believes these large tryptophan networks may have evolved to take advantage of their quantum properties. When cells breathe using oxygen—a process called aerobic respiration—they create free radicals, or reactive oxygen species (ROS). These unstable particles can emit high-energy UV photons, which damage DNA and other important molecules.

Tryptophan networks act as natural shields. They absorb this harmful light and re-emit it at lower energies, reducing damage. But thanks to superradiance, they may also perform this protective function much more quickly and efficiently than single molecules could.

The Progress and Trend of Heterogeneous Integration Silicon/III-V Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Silicon photonics is a revolutionary technology in the integrated photonics field which has experienced rapid development over the past several decades. High-quality III-V semiconductor components on Si platforms have shown their great potential to realize on-chip light-emitting sources for Si photonics with low-cost and high-density integration. In this review, we will focus on semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), which have received considerable interest in diverse photonic applications. SOAs have demonstrated high performance in various on-chip optical applications through different integration technologies on Si substrates. Moreover, SOAs are also considered as promising candidates for future light sources in the wavelength tunable laser, which is one of the key suitable components in coherent optical devices.

Freestanding hafnium zirconium oxide membranes can enable advanced 2D transistors

To further reduce the size of electronic devices, while also improving their performance and energy efficiency, electronics engineers have been trying to identify alternative materials that outperform silicon and other conventional semiconductors. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, materials that are just a few atoms thick and have a tunable electrical conductivity, are among the most promising candidates for the fabrication of smaller and better performing devices.

Past studies showed that these materials could be used to fabricate miniaturized transistors, electronic components that amplify or switch , particularly field-effect transistors (FETs). These are transistors that control the flow of electrical current using an electric field.

To reliably operate, however, FETs also need to integrate an insulating layer that separates the so-called gate electrode (i.e., the terminal regulating the flow of current) from the channel (i.e., the pathway through which electrical current flows). To enable greater control over the gate, this insulating layer, known as a , should have a high dielectric constant (κ), or in other words, it should effectively store electrical energy.

Computational musicology: Tracking the changing sound of bands

Coldplay, Radiohead or R.E.M.—which band has changed their music the most over the years? Professor Nick Collins from Durham University Department of Music has used a computer to try and find the answer to this by analyzing rhythm, harmony, and sound quality (known as timbre).

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