CS MAGIC: Compound Semiconductor MAGnetics

We propose a project to look at the feasibility of producing highly miniaturised magnetic sensors which have the advantage of integrated ancillary electronics on a Compound Semiconductor (CS) millimetre scale chip solution. One concept will aim to converge advances in CS electronics with a novel Quantum Well Hall Effect (QWHE) magnetic sensor, combined monolithically on a GaAs based material platform. The resulting Magnetic Integrated Circuit (MAG IC) has the potential to have a large dynamic operating range, high sensitivity and ultra-compact footprint. Another concept we will investigate is the feasibility of a radically new GaN magnetic sensor which has the potential for ultra-high temperature operation, monolithic integration with GaN based electronics and scalability on Silicon and Silicon Carbide large wafer formats. The project will aim to verify whether these concepts can be manufactured in a commercially viable manner in order to challenge traditional, bulky magnetic sensing solutions such as Giant Magneto Resistance (GMR) sensors and low spec-low cost solutions such as Silicon Hall sensors. Target applications include: current sensing, embedded cable detection, high resolution metrology and magneto-imaging for medical & Non-Destructive Testing (NDT).