DVFU: The platform for development of a nanoelectronics and quantum processors

2020: Development of the platform for development of a nanoelectronics and quantum processors

On March 26, 2020 DVFU reported to TAdviser that scientific Schools of natural sciences of the university (ShEN DVFU) together with colleagues from the Chinese academy of Sciences developed a crosswise microstructure from platinum, cobalt and oxide of magnesium which can work in the mode of ternary logic ("yes" — "no" — "I do not know"). On its basis it will be possible to build miniature devices of electronics and spintronics, the quantum processors operating with kutrita (three statuses unlike qubits) and the neyromorfny systems imitating functionality of a human brain.

The platform for development of a nanoelectronics and quantum processors

Modern processors consume a lot of energy, are physically separated from storage cells, and their efficiency is limited to binary logic ("1" — "0", "is included" — "is switched off"). These are three main reasons which interfere with further development of ADP equipment on the way of miniaturization and high-speed performance.

Thanks to a certain sequence of layers and switching of spin of electrons in a low layer of platinum we could manage effectively three magnetic statuses in a cobalt layer which correspond to the main positions of ternary logic ("– 1", "" 1 and "0" or "yes" — "no" — "I do not know"). The ternary logic (logician Aristotle) much more exceeds binary, Boolean logic ("0" — "1"). The principles of ternary logic can form the basis of "smart" computers of the near future. These devices will have higher speed of work, long term of life and low power consumption in comparison with the devices implemented on other principles told Alexander Samardak, the project manager from the Russian side, the associate professor of computer systems of School of natural sciences of DVFU

To receive spin current and to influence a cobalt layer scientists used two cross currents and also the plane magnetic field breaking magnetic symmetry. At the same time on a low layer of platinum passed current in the form of short impulses. As a result of a back of electrons with different polarity (focused up and down that corresponds to positions "1" and "0") deviated to opposite surfaces of a layer of platinum, i.e. in it there was net spin current which had an impact on backs of electrons of a magnetic layer. Under certain conditions there was a revolution of spin in a cobalt layer, i.e. the cell switched from "0" to "1", as in the semiconductor transistor.

Manage different magnetic statuses in a cobalt layer, i.e. implement different statuses of ternary logic, it was possible at the expense of current impulses which passed on two others orthogonally it is (perpendicular) to the located contacts. It became clear that such orthogonal currents can be lower, and in the offered sandwich structure it is possible to control also other intermediate stable magnetic conditions that can be used for sale of neyromorfny devices. Moreover, there was a sales opportunity in one microstructure of set of logical actions - "And", "OR", "NE-I" and "NE-ILI". It can be reached, using a certain sequence of cross currents, but not a set of semiconductor valves (transistors, resistance, diodes) as it occurs now. In the long term it will work for miniaturization of devices too.

Alexander Samardak explained that in a research scientists designated only iceberg top, and on the way to real devices of spintronics and the neyromorfny systems on the basis of ternary logic it is required to make a lot more efforts.

First, it is necessary to get rid of permanent magnetic field which is applied to violation of magnetic symmetry. Secondly, it is necessary to reduce the cell size to 100-200 nanometers to implement the high density of packaging of elements on a chip. Thirdly, it is necessary to solve a problem of exact reading of a status of a magnetic layer for what the highly sensitive sensors working at a basis of effect of tunnel magnetoresistance are necessary.

At the same time the scientist noted the curious fact that the first computer on ternary logic was developed in the USSR still in the early sixties of the XX century. The project was called "Xietun" and was implemented by scientific group under the leadership of professor N.P. Brusentsov (Lomonosov Moscow State University). However the computer of "Xietun" did not gain wide recognition, despite several advantages in front of machines which worked at fundamentals of binary logic (Boolean logic).