Asynchronous Ballistic Reversible Fluxon Logic

Journal Article · Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/tasc.2019.2904962· OSTI ID:1502118

Frank, Michael ^[1]; Lewis, Rupert ^[1]; Missert, Nancy ^[1]; Henry, Michael ^[1]; Wolak, Matthaus A. ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

In a previous study, we described a new abstract circuit model for reversible computation called Asynchronous Ballistic Reversible Computing (ABRC), in which localized information bearing pulses propagate ballistically along signal paths between stateful abstract devices, and elastically scatter off those devices serially, while updating the device state in a logically-reversible and deterministic fashion. The ABRC model has been shown to be capable of universal computation. In the research reported here, we begin exploring how the ABRC model might be realized in practice using single flux quantum (SFQ) solitons (fluxons) in superconducting Josephson junction (JJ) circuits. One natural family of realizations could utilize fluxon polarity to represent binary data in individual pulses propagating near-ballistically along discrete or continuous long Josephson junctions (LJJs) or microstrip passive transmission lines (PTLs), and utilize the flux charge (-1, 0, +1) of a JJ-containing superconducting loop with Φ₀ < I_cL < 2Φ₀ to encode a ternary state variable internal to a device. A natural question then arises as to which of the definable abstract ABRC device functionalities using this data representation might be implementable using a JJ circuit that dissipates only a small fraction of the input fluxon energy. We discuss conservation rules and symmetries considered as constraints to be obeyed in these circuits, and begin the process of classifying the possible ABRC devices in this family having up to 3 bidirectional I/O terminals, and up to 3 internal states.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1502118
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1593053
• Report Number(s): SAND--2019-2689J; 673334
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 29; ISSN 1051-8223
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
Josephson junctions
ballistic signaling
reversible computing
single flux quanta
superconducting logic circuits