I would like to operate a Single Electron Tunneling Junction (SETJ) in Coulomb Blockade Oscillation (CBO) mode that produces a signal in the 10Hz to 40Hz range. I have run some simulations that explore the feasibility of doing this using a simple cascade of BJT amplification. The junction capacitances of FETs seemed to interfere with the proper CBO of the SETJ. I obtained best results using high Beta BJTs, but needed an impractically high series resistor with the SETJ to make it work. I know that SPICE simulations may not be telling me anything about how a real SETJ will operate in a chip level design. I also know that the signal will be buried in the noise.

I am a board level circuit designer and I am hesitant to specify a chip level design. I assume there are many considerations and techniques in chip level design that do not have equivalencies in board level design. So please let me ask some questions about SETJ chip level circuit design:

1) Do you think it is possible to design a stable room temperature SETJ operating in CBO mode (at 10Hz to 40Hz) using standard fabrication plant processes?

2) Do you think it is possible to design the chip level circuitry (Amplifiers, Band Pass, etc.) that can interface with the SETJ to amplify and process the CBO signal to produce a measurable level? (I am interested in detecting the Frequency of the signal and do not care so much about the shape or amplitude of the waveform.)

3) If, to your knowledge this has already been done, where might I download by public domain or if necessary purchase the Design Files?

If it is not possible to acquire the Design Files then I have more questions:

1) If you have spare time from your normal work and without conflict of interest, would you be willing to get involved in a chip design project like this? Funding will be a TBD National Science Foundation Grant for your services, design tools, etc.?

2) If this is not enough of a challenge for you, then would you be able to recommend someone, that has knowledge of Single Electron circuits, who might be interested?