Feeling the heat in the tiny world of microelectronics

In this illuminating session, Dr Tran elaborates on electronic devices, comprised of billions of tiny switches called transistors, have completely transformed our way of life, enabling activities like online shopping, remote work, and instant Internet access. 

However, as these transistors are scaled down to the smallest size dictated by the laws of physics, they can generate localized heat, which may result in overheating or even catastrophic failures. Consequently, there is a pressing need for precise metrology techniques to detect these thermal irregularities, commonly referred to as hot spots, in typical electronic devices. Dr Tran’s important research is primarily focused on the creation of high-resolution, non-contact methods for thermal sensing that can effectively pinpoint these hot spots.