Semiconductor Switching Theory: Formalizing Semiconductor Switching Dynamics and Bridging Circuit Theory, Conservation Laws, and Semiconductor Physics

Abstract

Global electricity demand is expected to more than double by 2050^1-8, driven by emerging loads including AI data centres,^3,4 electrified transport^5,6, heat pumps⁷,  electrolytic hydrogen production⁸ and robotics². The global sustainability urgently demands green electrical and electronic engineering (EEE), where semiconductors are central components. However, since 1947⁹, semiconductor switching has remained largely empirical or phenomenological, owing to the lack of a unified causal-deterministic formulation of switching dynamics and a bridge between macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Consequently, it imposes fundamental limits on semiconductor science, engineering and downstream applications, whilst leaving these domains to traditionally evolve separately. Here we present Semiconductor Switching Theory (SST), which formalizes semiconductor switching dynamics within a unified causal-deterministic formulation and bridges circuit theory¹⁰, conservation laws and semiconductor physics. Its demonstrated implications include laying the foundation for the theoretical system, including fundamental modelling, deterministic predictability and causal-mechanistic interpretability. For example, SST yields a switching-energy-loss model (errors: 0.88–11.60%), which achieves a 17-fold average error reduction compared to the conventional model (errors: 34.41–80.05%); SST enables unprecedented causal-mechanistic interpretability of switching waveforms as manifestations of underlying switching dynamics. Furthermore, its prospective implications include informing semiconductor science, engineering and downstream applications, whilst laying the foundation for bridging these traditionally separate domains, including through future cross-disciplinary integrated research and future cross-hierarchical co-design. SST may help identify directions across disciplines such as semiconductor materials,^11,12 chip design,^13,14 packaging,^15,16 reliability,^17,18 thermal management;^19,20 downstream applications such as power electronics; and may extend across EEE sub-fields, including higher-frequency communication, computation devices and integrated circuits.^21,22