TCAD Software PISCES-2ET
Description:
PISCES-2ET device simulation program is developed based on the IIB version of
Stanford's well-established PISCES code and a carrier energy transport (ET)
model proposed by Prof. R. W. Dutton's research group at Stanford. Its
simulation capability for device electrical characteristics has been expanded
from silicon and GaAs to cover major compound materials commonly used in
high-speed heterostructures and optoelectronic devices. Since the program
considers also the lattice thermal effect--another form of energy transport,
it is named as 2ET version.
The new features of PISCES-2ET as compared to IIB version are summarized as
follows:
- A complete carrier energy transport model suitable to both element and
compound semiconductors has been developed by the inventors named below and
been incorporated in the 2ET code. In conjunction with the lattice thermal
diffusion model, this program can predict such physical phenomena as the
carrier velocity overshoot and hot electron effects which are critical
in determining the electrical characteristics of deep-submicron devices.
- Complete electrical simulation capability for heterostructure devices.
Multi-layer and multi-material devices can be simulated for DC, AC, and
time transient behavior. The physical parameters for the following materials
are thoroughly surveyed and are available in the code: SiGe, AlGaAs, AlInAs,
and GaInAsP.
- Robust high frequency AC analysis using a highly efficient numerical
(iterative) algorithm, namely TFQMR (for Transpose-Free Quasi-Minimum Residual).
Device characteristics at near or above the cut-off frequency can be simulated
without additional memory requirement and suffering of non-convergence problem.
- Carrier energy dependent mobility and impact ionization models are
available in the code. Besides the more and well calibrated (by industry)
electric field dependent mobility models are added to the program.
- Better capability of providing initial guess for Newton iterations
using a Newton projection scheme developed by the inventors. The
same scheme is also used for the zero-frequency AC analysis which is
vital for mixed device/circuit analysis.
Availability
Subject to export control when used outside of the United States.
Principal Developers
Z. Yu, D. Chen, L. So, and R. W. Dutton
Sponsorship
SRC, ARPA, ARO
Computer System Requirement
Hardware platform: currently available on SUN SparcStation and
HP 9000 workstations. Will be available in IBM RS 6000 and
DEC stations upon request
Operation System: UNIX or UNIX-like OS (such as HP-UX)
Languages: FORTRAN 77 and C
Memory requirement: 16MB main memory and at least 24MB hard disc
space available
Documentation
The documentation on Pisces-2ET and Its Application Sub-Systems can be
read here .
Zhiping Yu, Lydia So
CISX 335
Integrated Circuits Laboratory
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-4075