Carl-Mikael Zetterling is professor in solid state electronics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1966. He received the M.Sc.E.E. and Ph.D. degree from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, in 1991 and 1997, respectively. In 1997, he joined the Faculty at KTH, where he is currently Professor and research area coordinator for integrated devices and circuits.

He is leading a large SSF funded project called HOTSiC – High Temperature Power Electronic Systems with SiC Integrated Circuits. The goal is “to boldly go where no electronics has gone before”, showing electronic systems that can operate in extremely harsh environments, including 600 degrees Celsius and high levels of radiation.

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a wide bandgap semiconductor material that can handle these extreme environments. Since over 20 years Carl-Mikael has been working on devices and circuits in this material, and at this point his group has demonstrated integrated circuits working at 500 degrees Celsius. One area where this research could open up new frontiers is space research, specifically exploring Venus from the surface (surface temperature of 460 degrees Celsius). In previous attempts to investigate Venus (the Venera explorers in the 70′s from Soviet union) the silicon electronics failed after only two hours. Monitoring Venus surface over extended time can lead to improved planetary climate modeling, and also answer the question whether there is or has been life on Venus.

Related links

• www.hotsic.se
• Guiding students away from plagiarism