Cryogenic MOSFET Modeling for Large-Scale Quantum Computing

Promising results of state-of-the-art quantum computers fuel a world-wide effort in academic and private research laboratories to scale up the number of qubits and improve their characteristics in large arrays. To meet the scale-up challenge, innovative microelectronic architectures are envisioned hosting qubits and transistors in silicon. Integrated-circuit design for deep-cryogenic temperatures (below 10 K or -263.15°C) is a challenging optimization exercise that currently leads to costly iterations due to the lack of physics-based transistor models for these temperatures. Proposed enhancements to the industry-standard transistor models neglect the low-temperature physics and do not suffice for a large-volume application.

This PhD thesis pushes the state-of-the-art of the characterization, physics, and modeling of CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistors down to deep-cryogenic temperatures. The most advanced commercial bulk CMOS technology (28-nm minimum gate length) is measured down to 4.2 K using dip-stick measurements and probe-station measurements. The temperature behavior of the physical parameters and the analog figures-of-merit is reported. A similar characterization study is presented for a 28-nm FDSOI CMOS technology using measurements provided by CEA-Léti through the EU H2020 MOS-Quito Project. It is shown that the design methodology based on the transconductance efficiency remains valid down to 4.2 K for both advanced CMOS processes. These results are already supporting the community: qubit controllers in 28-nm bulk and FDSOI technologies have been successfully deployed in the cryostats of quantum computers by Google and CEA-Léti, respectively.

Industry-standard models have been honed over many years for near room-temperature operation. They show the largest discrepancies in the sub- and near-threshold regimes when used at deep-cryogenic temperatures. Therefore, this thesis presents an in-depth study of these regimes. Generalized Boltzmann relations are derived including band tails, which are valid in subthreshold. Using these relations, a new analytical theory is derived for the subthreshold swing that rolls off from the Boltzmann limit, showing that an ideal step-like switch cannot be obtained in the 0-K limit due to shallow band-edge states. The process quality must be improved to operate devices closer to the Boltzmann limit. Moreover, the transconductance efficiency in weak inversion (subthreshold) follows the new theoretical limit instead of the Boltzmann temperature limit. This mitigates the expected current savings from biasing in weak inversion. The new theory also explains the impossible inverse temperature dependence of the subthreshold-slope factor, which has been extracted in numerous characterizations in the literature. Furthermore, a threshold-voltage model for bulk CMOS is presented including dopant freezeout and interface traps. Process engineers can benefit from this model to customize transistors for use at 4.2 K. Finally, the discrepancy of the transfer characteristics in moderate inversion (near-threshold) is modeled with an improved representation of the localized band-edge states. As such, this PhD thesis lays the groundwork for next-generation deep-cryogenic IC design benefiting from physics-based knowledge. While this thesis is oriented toward quantum computing, the results also apply to other deep-cryogenic applications at the forefront of science and engineering.