What it is
An integrated circuit chip design that integrates compound semiconductors with silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, which is the basis for most of today’s integrated circuits.
Why it matters
Over 20 years ago, Eugene Fitzgerald of MIT developed strained silicon technology, overcoming the then-existing limits on the number of transistors on a computer chip. This innovation allowed Moore’s Law, which predicts the doubling of transistors on a chip every 18 months, to continue. However, silicon and compound semiconductor devices have now reached their natural limits and cannot independently provide the functionalities needed for further innovation. Fitzgerald, who is also the CEO and director of the Singapore MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), is developing an integrated circuit chip design that exceeds the natural capacity of silicon. By incorporating higher-performance compound semiconductors into integrated silicon circuit designs, it will be possible to create chips that drive advancements in product, system, and software design. These new chips will play a crucial role in the next generation of user interfaces for virtual and augmented reality, as well as 5G and 6G connectivity applications.
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