Atomera Extends Collaboration with Synopsys to GaN Workflows

Why It Matters

Accurate GaN TCAD simulations accelerate time‑to‑market for RF and power chips, giving designers a competitive edge and expanding Atomera’s reach into fast‑growing segments.

Key Takeaways

• Atomera adds GaN calibration to Synopsys Sentaurus TCAD.
• MST thin‑film tech aims to boost GaN transistor efficiency.
• Collaboration creates marketing decks and calibrated simulation decks.
• GaN focus targets high‑value RF and power semiconductor markets.
• Partnership leverages existing fab equipment for MST integration.

Pulse Analysis

Gallium nitride has become the material of choice for next‑generation radio‑frequency and power devices because of its high breakdown voltage and fast switching speed. However, designing GaN transistors demands precise predictive models to balance performance, reliability, and cost. Traditional silicon‑centric TCAD tools often fall short, prompting designers to seek specialized simulation workflows that capture GaN’s unique material physics and thermal behavior. As automotive electrification, 5G infrastructure, and data‑center power conversion scale, the need for robust GaN modeling intensifies.

The Atomera‑Synopsys partnership builds on years of collaboration around Atomera’s Mears Silicon Technology (MST) and Synopsys’ Sentaurus suite. By extending MSTcad capabilities into GaN, Atomera will create a calibrated methodology that aligns simulated device characteristics with real‑world measurements. The joint effort will also produce ready‑to‑use marketing and simulation decks, lowering the barrier for OEMs and foundries to evaluate MST‑enhanced GaN solutions. Leveraging existing fab equipment, MST can be integrated without major capital outlays, offering a pragmatic path to higher efficiency and lower on‑resistance in GaN power transistors.

For the semiconductor ecosystem, this collaboration signals a maturing GaN design infrastructure. Faster, more accurate TCAD loops reduce prototype cycles, cut development costs, and enable tighter performance targets for RF amplifiers and power converters. Companies that adopt the Atomera‑Synopsys workflow can differentiate their products in markets where efficiency gains translate directly to revenue—think base‑station radios, electric‑vehicle chargers, and renewable‑energy inverters. As the GaN market is projected to exceed $30 billion by 2030, the extended partnership positions both firms to capture a larger share of the high‑value segment while fostering broader industry adoption of quantum‑engineered thin‑film technologies.