SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Brian D. Rummel

Publications and source records attributed to Brian D. Rummel.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

The completed High-Low method for interface state density analysis in MOS capacitors

Interface state densities, $D_{IT}$, in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors are rarely reported in the accumulation energy range. It is recognized that the determination of $D_{IT}$ in accumulation is fundamentally obscured by small inaccuracies in the user-defined oxide capacitance, $C_{OX}$. This source of error prevents the High-Low frequency technique from reporting accumulation $D_{IT}$, even for sufficiently fast high-frequency measurements. To resolve this, an electrostatic constraint that is uniquely satisfied by a physically consistent $C_{OX}$ is derived from the established theory, thereby completing the High-Low framework. The "completed" framework's theoretical validity is confirmed using simulated capacitance data for an n-SiC MOS structure, and the method's frequency limitations are demonstrated. This analytical advancement ensures a physically consistent extraction of $D_{IT}$ near the band edge, overcoming a fundamental limitation in MOS capacitor characterization.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

A Unified Theory of Free Energy Functionals and Applications to Diffusion

Free energy functionals of Ginzburg-Landau type lie at the heart of a broad class of continuum dynamical models, such as the Cahn-Hilliard and Swift-Hohenberg equations. Despite the wide use of such models, the assumptions embodied in the free energy functionals are frequently either poorly justified or lead to physically opaque parameters. Here, we introduce a mathematically rigorous pathway for constructing free energy functionals that generalizes beyond the constraints of Ginzburg-Landau gradient expansions. We show that the new formalism unifies existing free energetic descriptions under a single umbrella by establishing the criteria under which the generalized free energy reduces to gradient-based representations. Consequently, we derive a precise physical interpretation of the gradient energy parameter in the Cahn-Hilliard model as the product of an interaction length scale and the free energy curvature. The practical impact of our approach is demonstrated using both a model free energy function and the silicon-germanium alloy system.

cond-mat.stat-mech