Semiconductor-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Semiconductor (SONOS) Non-Volatile memory structures can be simulated using ATLAS. The basic principle of these devices is the use of a charge trapping Silicon Nitride layer embedded in the oxide layer separating the gate from the channel. This results in an oxide layer between the gate and the Silicon Nitride layer, and another between the Nitride layer and the semiconducting channel (Figure 1). The Silicon Nitride layer can be charged by quantum mechanical tunneling or by hot carrier injection. This results in a shift in the turn-on voltage of the NVM device. The trapped charge can be discharged by quantum mechanical tunneling or by injecting hot carriers of the opposite polarity, thereby erasing the threshold Voltage shift.[1] [2]

The formation of deep p- and n- wells using high-energy implantation has become an integral part of CMOS technology process flow. The high energy and high dose implantation into the cleared area of a thick photoresist mask generates retrograde profiles. These profiles have a relatively high peak concentration usually at the depth of approximately 1 micron and a very low surface concentration. From the first glance this process achieves its primary goal to isolate NFETs from PFETs without affecting surface areas where the transistors are formed. Unfortunately for both technology and circuit designers, this relatively simple process step brings about an unwanted Well Proximity Effect (WPE) [1] exhibited by a strong dependence of threshold voltage Vt on transistor location and even orientation within the well.

The ion milling process is used extensively in the Hard Disc Drive industry, particularly in the manufacture of thin film magnetic heads. Ion milling is used to pattern many metal and dielectric materials including alloys comprising of Fe, Co and/or Ni transition metals which are commonly found in a thin film magnetic read-write transducers. This paper presents new results for ion milling and redeposition of gold on photoresist patterns at different milling angles and compared with 3D process simulation results.

This paper presents research efforts conducted at the IESUPM in the development of an accurate, physically-based solar cell model using the general-purpose ATLAS device simulator by Silvaco. Unlike solar cell models based on a combination of discrete electrical components, this novel model extracts the electrical characteristics of a solar cell based on virtual fabrication of its physical structure, allowing for direct manipulation of materials, dimensions, and dopings. As single junction solar cells simulation was yet achieved, the next step towards advanced simulations of multi-junction cells (MJC) is the simulation of the tunnel diodes, which interconnect the subcells in a monolithic MJC. The first results simulating a Dual-Junction (DJ) GaInP/GaAs solar cells are shown in this paper including a complete Tunnel Junction (TJ) model and the resonant cavity effect occurring in the bottom cell. Simulation and experimental results were compared in order to test the accuracy of the models employed.