Objective
The objective of the QUADRANT project is the development of a technology for the implementation of logic circuits based on a Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) architecture. A co-ordinated theoretical and experimental effort will be undertaken for the design and fabrication of QCA cells characterised by two possible polarisation states. Coupling between such cells and propagation of the polarisation along chains of cells will also be investigated, with the aim of demonstrating their functionality as building blocks for logic circuits.
The cellular automata concept is very promising for possible circuit applications of quantum devices, because it overcomes some of their intrinsic problems, such as the very limited available fan-out and the inability of efficiently driving interconnect lines. Other problems do, however, exist, such as that of achieving a bistable behaviour with a number of electrons per cell larger than two or of reliably interfacing the cellular automata system with the outer world and, in particular, with traditional electronics without perturbing its operation. We plan to address these issues through the development of improved cell designs and the realisation of probes capable of detecting the polarisation state of a cell without significantly affecting it.
The relative advantages of different semiconductor material systems will be explored, pushing the total dimensions of each cell down to a few tens of nanometers in order to raise the operating temperature and decrease the sensitivity to external interferences, issues of paramount importance for any future industrial application. Thus, during the first phase of the project, one of the main objectives will consist in the development of an improved technology for the fabrication of quantum dots with the smallest possible number of electrons. It will therefore be possible to investigate experimentally the operation of the cell topologies that up to now have been discussed in the literature only from a theoretical point of view. As a consequence of the strong interaction between theoretical and experimental groups, it will be possible to tune models so that they will be able to quantitatively and reliably predict the behaviour of a single cell and of arrays of cells. Such models will be implemented into simulation packages that will allow the design of optimised devices. Close co-ordination and exchange of information with the group at Notre Dame University that first proposed the cellular automata concept will further increase the effectiveness of the project.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics topology
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
56126 Pisa
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.