Signal Processing with Near-Neighbor-Coupled Time-Varying Quantum-Dot Arrays

The Nano-Devices Group at the University of Notre Dame proposed a new device that encodes information in the geometrical charge distribution of artificial (or natural) molecules. Functional units are composed by electrostatic coupling. In these units, processing takes place by reshaping the electron density of the molecules, and not by switching currents [1]. Signal processing potential of next-neighbor-coupled cellular nonlinear networks (CNN’s) has been recently explored with the conclusion that local-activity of the cells is necessary to exhibit complexity [2]. It will be shown that Coulomb-coupled time-invariant artificial molecules behave like nonlinear locally passive devices, thus signal-power-gain or multiple equilibria cannot be achieved by integrating them. However, the signal input–output relation of strongly nonlinear molecules can be varied in time by adiabatic pumping, called clock control. It will be shown that strongly nonlinear time-varying molecules can transform the necessary amount of clock energy into the signal flow, thereby enabling the network of molecules to perform signal processing.