Simulation design and fabrication of quantum dot celluar automata devices and circuits

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The invention of the transistor has fuelled a revolution in electronics and communications that has made possible many of the devices we have grown to depend on in our daily lives.  With the approach of potential limits in microelectronics scaling, it is becoming increasingly urgent to investigate computational paradigms that can continue this growth in computer power.  Emerging technologies based on the application of quantum dots to computing have gained significant research interest.  One such emerging technology, called quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA), has been identified as a solution for realizing computing circuits using quantum dots and ultimately single molecules.  QCA is a novel computing paradigm that encodes information in the electronic configuration of identical computing cells, and relies on the charge interactions to enable the information processing. QCA has been predicted to operate with very little power consumption, switch at THz frequencies, and has been recognized as a natural bridging point to molecular electronics, which represents the holy grail of electronics scaling. This research will focus on several important aspects of the development of this emerging technology. The applicant has already developed a design, layout, and simulation tool called QCADesigner, which has become the de facto standard in QCA simulation and is presently in use by most of the groups investigating this technology. One of the goals of this research will be to significantly increase the modeling capabilities of QCADesigner. This tool will enable us to accurately investigate computing architectures that take full advantage of the unique properties of this future technology. Another facet of this research will be to contribute to a collaborative effort at UBC directed at developing reliable fabrication strategies for implementing these devices. This research could result in a new class of switching devices, which would have a significant impact on Canadian research and industry.