QUANTUM-DOT CELLULAR AUTOMATA DEVICES AND ARCHITECTURES

Abstract

We discuss novel nanoelectronic architecture paradigms based on cells composed of coupled quantum-dots. These ideas of a transistor-less approach represent a radical departure from conventional technology. We utilize a strategy which exploits the physical interactions between quantum-dots arranged in suitably designed cellular arrays. Boolean logic functions may be implemented in specific arrays of cells representing binary information, the so-called Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata (QCA). Cells may also be viewed as carrying analog information and we outline a network-theoretic description of such Quantum-Dot Nonlinear Networks (Q–CNN). In addition, we discuss possible realizations of these structures in a variety of semiconductor systems (including GaAs/AlGaAs, Si/SiGe, and Si/SiO 2), rings of metallic tunnel junctions, and candidates for molecular implementations.