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General Introduction

Overview​

Aquarius is a mixed‑mode 2D semiconductor device simulator. It enables users to create complex physical models of semiconductor devices and incorporate them into sophisticated circuit simulations with minimal effort. By providing access to a full suite of semiconductor physics Aquarius offers a reliable and cost‑effective platform for evaluating device behaviour and performance prior to fabrication.

At the core of Aquarius is a modular architecture composed of three highly integrated components: the Device Editor, the Circuit Simulator, and the Results Visualiser. Each module communicates through well‑defined file types, ensuring a clear and traceable workflow from device construction through simulation and post‑processing.

These modules work together to support both process‑driven and direct device modelling approaches, and they enable the reuse of device structures across multiple circuit and biasing scenarios.

Device Editor​

The Device Editor provides the environment for defining the physical attributes of a two‑dimensional semiconductor device. Users specify geometry, material regions, doping profiles, physical models and contacts. Once complete, the device is exported as a Single Device Model (.sdm) file, this file acts as a reusable model component that can be inserted into a circuit‑level simulation.

Circuit Simulator​

The Circuit Simulator is responsible for assembling one or more device models into a simulation environment. It allows the user to:

  • Import .sdm device files
  • Define circuit topology and node connections
  • Specify bias conditions (steady state or transient)
  • Configure simulation controls

The simulator generates a solver input file (.sol), which contains:

  • References to all included device models
  • Full circuit definition
  • All solver options and parameters

This file is used by the underlying Aquarius Solver, which performs the numerical solution of semiconductor and circuit equations. The solver computes the electrical, thermal, and carrier‑transport behaviour of the circuit and devices. Results are saved to disk as a results index file (.res) together with a series of Solution Case Files corresponding to each bias point or timestep.

Results Visualiser​

The Results Visualiser is used for examining and analysing simulation output. It loads the .res file, which references all associated solution case files, restoring the full dataset automatically. Within the visualiser, users can:

  • View device geometry and material regions and doping
  • Plot electrical and physical variables (potential, carrier densities, fields, currents, temperature)
  • Inspect a cut line though a device
  • Save graphs and raw data for reporting or documentation