Reliability Physics

This course delves into the fundamental physical principles governing the reliability of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. Students will learn to identify common failure modes, understand their underlying physics, and apply quantitative methods for lifetime estimation. Topics include accelerated testing, statistical analysis of failure data, and strategies for designing robust semiconductor systems. The course prepares students to analyze and mitigate reliability challenges in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and product development.

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Introduction to Semiconductor Reliability and Failure Mechanismslecture

02Basic Reliability Statistics and Failure Rate Conceptslecture

03Physics of Dielectric Breakdown (TDDB)lecture

04Electromigration in Interconnectslecture

05Hot Carrier Injection (HCI) and Bias Temperature Instability (BTI)lecture

06Radiation Effects and Soft Errorslecture

07Package-Level Reliability: Mechanical Stress and Fatiguelecture

08Midterm Examlecture

09Failure Analysis Techniques: Physical and Electrical Methodslecture

10Accelerated Life Testing and Lifetime Prediction Modelslecture

11Design for Reliability (DfR) Methodologieslecture

12Reliability of Advanced Devices: FinFETs, Gate-All-Around, and Emerging Technologieslecture

13Yield, Quality, and Reliability Interdependencieslecture

14Course Review and Final Project Presentationslecture

Syllabus

Each week features online lectures, readings, and problem sets due by Sunday evening. Active participation in asynchronous discussion forums is expected, fostering peer learning and critical analysis of complex reliability issues. Quizzes and a mid-term exam assess understanding of core concepts, while a final project requires application of learned principles to a real-world reliability case study. Late submissions are penalized, and academic integrity is strictly enforced according to institutional policy. Regular engagement and independent study are essential for success in this graduate-level course.