Heat generation and transport in nanoscale semiconductor devices via Monte Carlo and hydrodynamic simulations

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to set up a consistent off‐equilibrium thermodynamic theory to deal with the self‐heating of electronic nano‐devices.Design/methodology/approachFrom the Bloch‐Boltzmann‐Peierls kinetic equations for the coupled system formed by electrons and phonons, an extended hydrodynamic model (HM) has been obtained on the basis of the maximum entropy principle. An electrothermal Monte Carlo (ETMC) simulator has been developed to check the above thermodynamic model.FindingsA 1D n+−n−n+ silicon diode has been simulated by using the extended HM and the ETMC simulator, confirming the general behaviour.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper's analysis is limited to the 1D case. Future researches will also consider 2D realistic devices.Originality/valueThe non‐equilibrium character of electrons and phonons has been taken into account. In previous works, this methodology was used only for equilibrium phonons.