Towards the quantum noise limit in microwave amplifiers: a first principles study of hot electron noise
Abstract
The objective of this proposal is to establish a quantitative description of the microscopic fluctuations of a hot electron gas in a semiconductor, thereby providing the fundamental knowledge needed to realize quantum noise limited semiconductor microwave amplifiers. Microwave amplifiers set sensitivity limits in diverse areas of science and engineering, including the detection of hazardous substances, small object detection, qubit readout for quantum computers, and many others. Hot electron noise, arising from the the stochastic fluctuations of hot electrons, must be mitigated for semiconductor amplifiers to approach the quantum noise limit but remains poorly understood. We aim to create the first ab initio methods to compute the stochastic properties of a hot electron gas free of any adjustable parameters, providing an unparalleled microscopic window into origin of hot electron noise. The outcome of this effort will be a revolutionary advance in the science and engineering of stochastic electronic transport processes, laying the foundation for efforts to create semiconductor microwave amplifiers operating near the quantum noise limit.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 14, 2022
- Source ID
- FA95501910321
Entities
People
- Austin Minnich
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- California Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force