Industry 2.2 Universities 3. The transistor is a very simple structure, consisting of one small electronic island coupled to source and drain reservoirs by tunneling barriers, and coupled capacitively to the gate electrode. By controlling voltage applied to the gate electrode, the electron number in the island is changed, one by one, thereby producing oscillations in the source-drain conductance. Thus, a SET can display switch operation. The electrons make use of the smallest unit of electric charge in order to represent bits of information.
Scientists believe that the quantum effect is the key mechanism in nanoscale device operation.
Fundamentally, the very simple physics involved in device operation make SET very attractive. Japanese research efforts have been devoted primarily to Si SETs and the problem of making LSI compatible devices. When it comes to the practical application of SETs to integrated circuits, Si is one of the most promising materials for the following reasons. Well-developed Si nanofabrication techniques can be easily utilized, since they are compatible with conventional LSI technology. The size of Si nanostructures can be easily controlled using the thermal oxidation method.