New Electron-Waveguide-Based Modeling for Carbon Nanotube Interconnects

In this paper, hybrid transmission line-quantum mechanical models are proposed for the analysis of the signal propagation along metallic and quasi-metallic single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and bundles of SWCNTs. The analysis is based on the general assumption that the SWCNT is characterized by n energy subbands crossing the Fermi level. The proposed model is derived from a new development of the electron waveguide formalism in time and frequency domains, taking into account the damping effect produced by electron scattering. Simulation results are compared with experimental measurements available in literature in order to validate the developed models. Numerical calculations are performed in order to predict the current carrying capability of SWCNT interconnects having different configurations in the low-voltage bias hypothesis. Comparison with the performances of scaled copper interconnects is also presented.