Frank M.P.
University of Florida, US
Keywords: compact models, fundamental limits, nanocomputing, quantum device models, reversible computing
In this paper we describe a class of technology-independent nano-device models, motivated from fundamental physical considerations, and give some examples of their applications in nanocomputer architecture and systems engineering. These models rest on recent insights on the fundamental physics of computing, such as close identities between energy and the rate of physical computing, and between temperature and the update frequency of physical bits. So, for example, a subsystem at room temperature can never flip bits faster than 9 THz, only 3,000 times faster than today. Going faster will require highly isolated computational degrees of freedom and will enable reversible and quantum-coherent device principles to be applied. One interesting consequence of these models is that even leakage-prone field-effect technologies have no fundamental limit on their entropy generation per bit-operation if adiabatic techniques are applied, and the redundancy of the bit encoding is raised while the quality (Q factor) is increased. Whether Q itself has a fundamental upper limit is still an open research problem.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2004 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 2
Published: March 7, 2004
Pages: 29 - 32
Industry sector: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Topics: MEMS & NEMS Devices, Modeling & Applications, Nanoelectronics
ISBN: 0-9728422-8-4