Recent advances in the growth and processing of electronic diamond have provided a glimpse into the potential device performance and applications that this exciting material system can provide. Unique and highly desirable material properties such as large bandgap, high intrinsic mobility and very high thermal conductivity deem diamond the ultimate material for high power/high frequency device realisation.

This combined with ultra small feature processing potential, points towards an ultra short gate length FET technology as the obvious choice for the application of such a unique material system. Ultimately this work aims to develop an ultra-short gate length diamond device technology that can satisfy the expanding demand for high power / high frequency operation. In particular this technology finds application in increasing the source power of Terahertz imaging systems, which currently are of great interest for security and medical imaging applications.

This prime goal is accomplishable using high quality diamond material supplied by U.K. based company Element 6 /Diamond Microwave Devices combined with access to the extensive fabrication and characterisation facilities at the University of Glasgow. In particular, access to the ultra-high resolution capabilities of the recently commissioned Vistek VB6 electron beam lithography tool, provides a direct route to the realisation of such ultra-small dimension devices.

For further information contact Dr David Moran – dmoran@elec.gla.ac.uk