Computer Aided Design of Atomic Electronics with Coupled Atomic Silicon Quantum Dots

革命性的纳米级逻辑器件比现代基于晶体管的逻辑门小2-3个数量级，这引发了人们对探索这种新兴计算技术的巨大兴趣，这种技术有望实现超低功耗、更小尺寸和高频操作。这些逻辑器件由在硅表面制造的原子硅量子点（ASiQD）组成，具有原子精度，能够携带代表位信息的电荷。这些类型的逻辑器件属于场耦合纳米计算（FCN）范式，Walus实验室通过计算和理论研究以及实验合作在这方面拥有专业知识。值得注意的是，qcaddesigner和SiQAD都是我的团队为FCN研究开发的CAD工具。qcaddesigner为新兴的FCN器件设计提供了大量高质量的研究，并被引用了数百次；SiQAD是专门为ASiQD技术开发的图形设计工具和物理校准的物理模拟器。我的团队中丰富的FCN经验，结合SiQAD提供的坚实基础，使我们能够将其用作进一步研究的跳板，使我们能够设定以下关键的高级目标：(1)开发新的物理模拟例程，以捕获更多的物理效果；(2)为asqd技术开发设计自动化框架，以实现高水平探索的快速扩展；(3)开发能够自主创建逻辑门的机器学习代理；(4)开发和校准接口器件的计算模型，包括基于asqd的单电子晶体管；(5)探索半经典和量子机制的应用，如量子随机数生成。在项目过程中，3名博士生、2名硕士生和4名本科生研究助理将朝着上述目标努力，并有机会提高他们在需求领域的技能：量子工程、机器学习、设计自动化等。训练有素的hqp将对加拿大的技术进步和国家战略产生直接影响。该项目已经有多个已建立的合作者参与，使我们能够与世界各地的研究人员一起推动ASiQD研究的界限。值得注意的是，我们与阿尔伯塔大学的Robert Wolkow教授的实验实验室和量子硅公司有着长期的合作关系，该公司寻求将ASiQD技术商业化。与我们的合作者合作，我们一直在积极地通过计算技术和新颖的设计工具使其他研究人员可以访问ASiQD。我们的定位是在原子尺度上推进计算研究的前沿，并为加拿大领导未来高科技的能力做出贡献。

Demonstrations of revolutionary nanoscale logic devices which are 2-3 orders of magnitude smaller than modern transistor-based logic gates have sparked tremendous interests to explore this emerging computational technology which promises ultra-low power, smaller size, and high frequency operation. These logic devices consist of atomic silicon quantum dots (ASiQD) manufactured on the surface of silicon with atomically-accurate precision, able to carry charges that represent bit information positionally. These type of logic devices fall under the field-coupled nanocomputing (FCN) paradigm, which the Walus Lab has expertise in through computational and theoretical studies as well as from experimental collaborations. Notably, QCADesigner and SiQAD are both CAD tools developed by my group to contribute to FCN research. QCADesigner has enabled a significant number of high quality studies into emerging FCN device designs and has seen hundreds of citations; SiQAD is developed specifically for the ASiQD technology with graphical design tools and physically calibrated physics simulators. The vast FCN experience in my group, combined with the solid foundations offered by SiQAD which allows us to use it as a jumping board for further research, allows us to set the following key high-level objectives: (1) develop new physical simulation routines which capture more physical effects; (2) develop design automation frameworks for ASiQD technology to allow rapid scaling of high level explorations; (3) develop machine learning agents which autonomously create logic gates; (4) develop and calibrate computational models for interfacing devices, including single-electron transistors based on ASiQDs; and (5) explore semi-classical and quantum regime applications such as quantum random number generation. Over the course of the project, 3 PhD students, 2 master's students, and 4 undergraduate research assistants will work towards the above objectives with opportunities to advance their skills in fields that are in-demand: quantum engineering, machine learning, design automation, and more. Trained HQPs will make an immediate impact on Canada's technological advancement and national strategy. This project already sees involvement from multiple established collaborators, allowing us to push the boundaries of ASiQD research with researchers worldwide. Notably, we have long-standing collaboration relations with Prof. Robert Wolkow's experimental lab at the University of Alberta and Quantum Silicon Inc, which seeks to commercialize ASiQD technologies. Working with our collaborators, we have been actively making ASiQD accessible to other researchers via computational techniques and novel design tools. We are positioned to both advance the frontier of computational research at the atomic scale and contribute to Canada's capacity to lead future high technology.