An NCL-HDL Snake-Clock-Based Magnetic QCA Architecture

The International Technology Roadmap of semiconductors suggests that quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology might be a possible CMOS substitute. In particular, magnetic quantum-dot cellular automata (MQCA) have recently drawn the attention of the researchers. Previous experimental works have demonstrated that MQCA are feasible, and can be fabricated with existing technological processes. They are also attractive due to their compactness and an extremely small power dissipation. Unlike in previous contributions, where architectural blocks are often presented without or only slightly considering their relations with technology, here we conceived, implemented, and described a complex MQCA computational block maintaining a clear link with technology. This link is achieved at different levels. At an architectural level, we propose the use of delay insensitive null convention logic (NCL) . It is implemented for MQCA in order to solve the “layout=timing” problem in the specific case of MQCA. We, thus, describe an architectural block at system level using a hardware description language (HDL). This NCL-HDL idea is adapted to a new structure, which we have called “snake clock,” proposed as a feasible solution for the problem of clock delivery, essential for MQCA operations. Furthermore, we demonstrated by means of accurate micromagnetic and finite element method simulations that the three-phase “snake-clock” NCL structure works correctly.