The aim of the Competence Center for Custom Semiconductor Technologies (CSCT) of the Faculty of Engineering, is the development and testing of semiconductor-based components for specific applications. There will be an increasing need in future for components and sensors that can be operated reliably and precisely at very low or high temperatures and within a high radiation exposure. As key components of scientific instruments or of experiments in quantum technologies, these devices require a development process that is tailored to the specific application.

Research

Space applications

A paradigm shift has taken place in the space sector over the last decade. Under the term “New Space”, the barrier to space has been drastically reduced with the possibility of employ state-of-the-art technologies in satellites. As these so-called COTS (Commercial off-the-shelf) components are not certified for space applications, the development of COTS-based systems for up-stream applications requires extensive testing under environmental conditions of space. This especially includes the study of radiation induced effects.

Quantum technology

Current quantum computers are operated at temperatures close to absolute zero, in the range of a few millikelvin (mK). However, the control and monitoring of this technology requires extensive conventional electronic components (COTS), which were fabricated to be employed near room temperature. In order to minimize the heat input of conventional electronics to parts, which are cooled down to some mK, existing structures have to be adapted for use at low temperatures, in the range of some Kelvin.

Precession measurements

Measuring instruments with high precession form the backbone of innovative technologies and cutting-edge experiments. In particular, single photon measurements are a prerequisite to exploit quantum effects. In this context, a tailored development of sensors and detectors is necessary, which requires a detailed understanding of the physical theory as well as of the applied technology and engineering methods.

Infrastructure

Microelectronics

The CSCT Competence Center uses state-of-the-art electronic infrastructure, in particular measuring systems and electronic equipment. In addition, the FHWN has a wire-bonding machine, a laser recorder, and a microelectronics production line. It furhtermore has access and experience to production facilities via Europractice and a cooperation with CEITEC in Brno.
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Space

In addition to thermal vacuum chambers (TVC), a vibration table and a facility for the controlled generation of magnetic fields and solar conditions, CSCT offers access to and experience with state-of-the-art irradiation facilities.
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Low temperature

The cryogenic laboratory includes a cryostat, with which samples can be cooled down to four Kelvin and contacted for electrical measurements. This is used not only for the development of electronics for cryogenic applications but as well for the precise characterization of radiation damage in semiconductors.

Single Event Effect Studies for Aerospace applications (SEERad)

  • Funding Agency: The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
  • Funding: >160.000Euro
  • Funding duration: 2023 - 2026
  • Consortium: Seibersdorf Laboratories, FOTEC, FHWN (Lead)

Direct detection of light dark matter with quantum detectors (DANAE)

  • Funding Agency: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
  • Funding: > 210.000 Euro
  • Funding duration: 2020 - 2024
  • Consortium: HEPHY, HLL, FHWN (Lead)

Semiconductor Integrated Sensors for fundamental research experiments (Scies4Free)

  • Funding Agency: Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
  • Funding: > 1.200.000 Euro)
  • Funding duration: 2024 - 2028
  • Consortium: TU-Wien, HEPHY, FHWN (Lead)

Matterwave Interferometry (MAWI)

  • Funding Agency: European Research Council (EU MSC)
  • Funding: > 1.200.000 Euro
  • Funding duration: 2023 - 2027
  • Consortium: Univ. Trieste (Lead), Univ. St. Andrews, Univ. Grenoble, LENS Florence, FOTEC/FHWN

Cryogenisches Halbleiterlabor (CryoLab)

  • Funding Agency: Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Niederösterreich m.b.H. (GFF)
  • Funding: > 250.000 Euro
  • Funding duration: 2024 - 2034
  • Consortium: FHWN (Lead)

Current Projects

Below is a selection of our current research projects

Aufbau Med Austklein

Single Event Effect Studies for Aerospace applications (SEERad)

Malfunctions of electronic components due to radiation-generated charge carriers are a key issue for aerospace technologies. As the probability of such single event effects (SEE) is almost constant from the time of commissioning, this effect must be taken into account at an early stage of technology development. For this reason, the current “New Space” development requires extensive experimental tests. To address this need, we are developing innovative SEE irradiation techniques based on models and simulations in collaboration with Seibersdorf Laboratories and MedAustron in the SEERad project.

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Cryostat

The low-temperature infrastructure funded by the government of Lower Austria allows circuits, detectors and materials to be investigated at down to 4 Kelvin. The current focus is on the development of CMOS-based control electronics for quantum circuits at millikelvin temperatures, high electron mobility transistors, as well as photonic structures and detectors at low temperatures e.g. for space applications. In addition it enables the advanced characterization irradiated samples by thermal excitation of defects.

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Scies4Free

Within the Scies4Free (Semiconductor Integrated Sensors for fundamental research experiments) doctoral program, five PhD students are working on the development of new technologies to measure the smallest signals - such as those of individual light particles (photons) - with high precession. This sensitivity is necessary to enable new experiments in the field of quantum technology and the search for dark matter. The development of suitable instruments is becoming an integral part of research in this field, which requires detailed knowledge of physical theory as well as a precise understanding of the technology and its practical use in experiments.

CMOS Based Atomtronics

Matterwave Interferometry (MAWI)

The Matterwave Interferometry (MAWI) project is concerned with the implementation of quantum mechanical logic and sensors based on so-called “atomtronics” technology. Here, atoms are brought to temperatures close to absolute zero in order to serve as basic building blocks for quantum mechanical circuits. The task of FHWN in this project is the design and implementation of the corresponding control circuits using classical CMOS technology, as well as testing under ultra-high vacuum conditions at high current densities.

Teaching

Following the idea of research-led teaching and in order to ensure state-of-the-art education, scientific results from the research projects are incorporated into the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses at the Faculty of Engineering. The training takes place in the laboratories and partner institutions and enables high-quality final theses, which are thus secured with high reliability and validity. This applies to the degree programs:


Cooperation Partners