Which mechanism limits the minimum size of semiconductor transistor gates due to quantum effects?

💡 Explanation

As transistor gates shrink, the insulating layers become thinner. Electron tunneling occurs because the electron wave function penetrates the classically forbidden region of thin insulators, leading to unwanted current flow. Therefore, electron tunneling limits gate size, rather than parasitic capacitance, thermal runaway or electromigration, which are consequence of other scaling effects.

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