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International Conference on Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation

UCNC 2017: Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation pp 56–68Cite as

Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata: A Clocked Architecture for High-Speed, Energy-Efficient Molecular Computing

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 10240))

Abstract

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is a non-transistor-based, classical computing paradigm. QCA devices may be implemented using mixed-valence molecules, and logic circuits are formed by laying out ordered arrays of QCA molecules on a substrate. Molecules are locally coupled via the Coulomb field. The molecular circuits can be clocked using an applied perpendicular electric field. A fully-quantum model of field-driven electron transfer (ET) is used to determine the ET rate for specific QCA candidate molecules. The diferrocenyl acetylene (DFA) molecule is taken as an example QCA molecule, and this model indicates DFA may support classical computation at speeds well beyond the GHz range.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    It is important to provide some disambiguation. In this context, “QCA” refers to “quantum-dot cellular automata,” a paradigm for general-purpose classical computing proposed by Lent, Tougaw, Porod, and Bernstein [19]. Here, classical bits are manipulated by exploiting quantum phenomena: quantum tunneling, and the quantization of charge. “QCA” also stands for “quantum cellular automata,” a model for universal quantum computing. Since this abbreviation has served extensively in the distinct bodies of literature, we seek to avoid further other confusion by providing this note here, and by continuing to use “QCA” to refer in this context only to the classical computing paradigm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA

    Enrique P. Blair

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  1. Enrique P. Blair
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Correspondence to Enrique P. Blair .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

    Matthew J. Patitz

  2. University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Mike Stannett

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Blair, E.P. (2017). Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata: A Clocked Architecture for High-Speed, Energy-Efficient Molecular Computing. In: Patitz, M., Stannett, M. (eds) Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation. UCNC 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10240. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58187-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58187-3_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-58186-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-58187-3

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