Elaheh Ahmadi receives ONR Young Investigator Award to prepare for the next generation of wireless technology

Elaheh Ahmadi received a 2020 Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) program specializing in RF Semiconductor Devices, RF Solid State Amplifiers and Wide Bandgap Materials for her research project “Ultra-scaled Channel N-polar GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors on on-axis GaN and SiC Substrates for Next Generation of Wireless Technology.”

This project aims to develop the science and technology to enable high-frequency high-power Gallium Nitride based transistors for the next generation of wireless technology.

“It’s no secret that our nation is in the midst of a great power competition,” said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. David Hahn in an ONR press release.

According to Ahmadi, it is clear that generations beyond 5G will continue to operate at higher frequencies, demanding higher gain and efficiency. There is also a need for efficient solid-state power amplification to replace complex, low-efficiency multi-stage circuits and bulky and fragile vacuum tubes in defense applications.

Additionally, in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, there is an urgent need for high-power and high frequency transistors that can facilitate ultra-fast, highly reliable, and low latency wireless networks.

To serve these needs, transistors which can provide a combination of high power density and high efficiency at high frequencies are required.  To accomplish this goal, a novel approach is proposed which enables aggressive scaling of gate length and gate-to-channel distance while maintaining a channel with high electron mobility, high electron velocity and high charge density.

Ahmadi’s research interests include epitaxial growth and characterization of III-N and Oxide semiconductor materials for applications in high power devices and optoelectronics, electron transport modeling, and quantum optics in polar materials.

She received a 2020 Young Investigator Program award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

ONR Press Release (April 7, 2020)