Anthony Levi | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 3, 1959 |
| Alma mater | University of Sussex University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Microdisk nanolaser Optimal semiconductor device design |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics Electrical Engineering |
| Institutions | Bell Laboratories University of Southern California |
Anthony F. J. Levi (born 1959) is a British-born engineer and academic. He is professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Southern California (USC). [1]
He is known for inventing hot electron spectroscopy, discovering ballistic electron transport in heterostructure bipolar transistors, and demonstrating room-temperature unipolar ballistic transistors. [2]
His research focuses on semiconductor device physics, optoelectronics, and hardware security. [3]
He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Cambridge in 1983. Following his doctoral studies, he joined AT&T Bell Laboratories. [2]
At Bell Labs, he conducted research in semiconductor device technology, including the discovery of ballistic electron transport in heterostructure bipolar transistors and the demonstration of room-temperature unipolar transistors with ballistic electron transport. [4]
In 1993, Levi joined the faculty at the University of Southern California, where he holds appointments in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physics and Astronomy. [5] [6] From 2018 to 2024, he served as Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – Electrophysics. [3]
His early research contributed to the development of parallel fiber-optic interconnects, which are essential for enabling high-speed communication in computer and switching systems. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
He invented hot electron spectroscopy, a method used to probe non-equilibrium [13] electron transport in semiconductor devices. [14]
He is also credited with the creation of the microdisk laser, a compact and efficient semiconductor laser widely used in photonic research. [15] [16]
Working with Agilent Technologies, Levi co-developed an optical connector plug-in package capable of transmitting data at an aggregate rate of 10 Gb/s in late 2000. [17]
Working with the Paul Scherrer Institute and researchers at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Levi helped advance a technique for defect detection in manufactured semiconductor chips as well as for reverse engineering of circuits. [18] [3]
In an interview with Reuters, Levi commented on supply chain concerns facing the chip industry in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that such issues could be mitigated by focusing on rebuilding the U.S. chip manufacturing and packaging industry. [19]
Levi’s research combines experimental and theoretical approaches across multiple domains, reflecting a broad and integrative vision that bridges solid-state physics, quantum electronics, and applied engineering. [5]
His pioneering work in semiconductor device physics and optoelectronics includes studies on nonequilibrium electron transport, ballistic electron transport in transistors, and microdisk lasers, which have advanced the understanding of high-speed electronic and photonic systems. [1]
In the field of photonics and quantum engineering, Levi has developed integrated photonic systems and explored the quantum-classical boundaries in device design, contributing to innovations in both optical communication and quantum information processing. [20]
He has also demonstrated leadership in hardware security and chip imaging, particularly through the development of 3D X-ray imaging technologies used for microchip inspection and tamper detection, a research area that has received significant attention in the scientific and technical press since 2019. [20]
Levi has led several notable projects at USC in collaboration with industry and government partners. Among these, the 3D X-ray microchip imaging focuses on developing high-resolution 3D X-ray techniques for integrated circuit inspection, enabling the detection of structural defects and unauthorized modifications in semiconductor devices. [21] [22] Another key initiative, quantum and hybrid device optimization, involves ongoing studies on the design, performance limits, and control of hybrid classical–quantum devices, integrating concepts from applied quantum mechanics and nanofabrication.
Levi is the author of several widely used textbooks that connect fundamental physics with practical device design. His book Applied Quantum Mechanics is a comprehensive, application-focused text written for engineers, materials scientists, and applied physicists. [11] Now in its third edition, this book emphasizes real-world examples and includes worked problems, as well as coverage of quantum engineering, quantum information processing, and device optimization. Essential Semiconductor Laser Device Physics, now in its second edition, offers a concise overview of semiconductor laser principles, threshold behavior, and design strategies, serving as a key reference for engineers and researchers working on semiconductor lasers [23] . Essential Classical Mechanics for Device Physics is a concise introduction to classical mechanics concepts, providing readers with the theoretical and mathematical foundation for modern device design. [24]
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