Date: Monday, April 7, 2025

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: 1447 Classroom Klaus

Speaker: Dr. Nuo Xu

Speakers' Title: Senior R&D Manager at TSMC

Seminar Title: GPU and AI as Transformative Force for Semiconductor Simulations

Abstract:
The GPU/AI ecosystem is emerging as a transformative force in semiconductor Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD), empowering the resolution of tera-scale (10¹²) to exa-scale (10¹⁸) problems with turnaround times measured in hours. Core components of TCAD simulators—such as geometry builders, meshers, numerical solvers, optimizers, and design-of-experiments engines—can be re-architected using the Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data (SIMD) paradigm, unlocking the full parallel processing potential of GPUs and AI. With the "Physics-GPU-AI trinity", TCAD simulators are evolving into semiconductor digital twins, enabling fab engineers to explore complex process and device interactions virtually, yet with high fidelity. In this seminar, several case studies will be provided to illustrate this new norm.

Biographical Sketch of the Speaker:
Nuo Xu received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. From 2010 to 2019, he held roles at Synopsys, imec, and Samsung. He is currently a Senior R&D Manager at TSMC, where he leads a team focused on developing simulation and high-performance computing solutions for cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, spanning atomic-scale to wafer/package-scale modeling. His recent interests include leveraging GPU and deep learning acceleration to tackle existing scientific computing challenges. Dr. Xu has authored over 150 technical articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and has applied for or been granted more than 40 U.S. patents. He has actively contributed to the semiconductor community, serving on the committees of the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS) – Technology CAD (2020–2024), VLSI Technology and Circuits (2025–present), and the IEEE International Roadmap for Devices and Systems (IRDS) – Lithography and Patterning (2023–present), as well as multiple conferences in semiconductor process and integrated circuit design.