Microelectronics/nanoelectronics and the 21st century

The advent of non-photolithographic lithography, new electronic materials, and the devices, circuits, and systems they enable will permit the electronics revolution of the 20(th) Century to continue well into the 21(st) Century. New lithographic techniques using tools such as nano-imprint and the atomic force microscope are expected to lead to electronic circuits whose lateral spatial resolution is under 10 nanometers. When these are coupled with innovative materials such as those exhibiting Giant Magneto Resistance, new ultra dense, ultra fast, non-volatile memory is expected to ensue. New records are expected to be set in solid state laser output power when new wide bandgap semiconductors are combined with concepts such as the quantum cascade laser. Differential etching techniques that have proven efficacious in the design of surface emitting lasers are expected to propel bipolar transistor switching speeds into the TeraHertz spectrum with resultant logic devices clocking at well over 100 GHz. This increase will lead to much improved signal processing capability. New advances in controlling the phase stability of local oscillators and amplifiers will lead to electromagnetic systems that provide much greater Doppler resolution for radar and much better spectral utilization for communications systems. Devices and integrated circuits combining semiconductors and magnetic spin states are expected to lead to a new class of integrated circuits whose functionality can be dynamically changed so as to adapt optimally to the computational or sensing requirements of the moment. Still other advances are expected to accrue in the area of nanophotonics where device sizes can be smaller than the wavelength of the light they emit or receive.