Oct. 11, 2016 Susquehanna Section/Nanotech dinner/meeting: Straintronics

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Straintronics: An extremely energy-efficient hardware platform for Boolean and non-Boolean computing implemented by replacing nanotransistors with nanomagnets¹

Supriyo Bandyopadhyay and Jayasimha Atulasimha

Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA

Many of today’s computing challenges (protein folding, decoding the human genome, weather forecasting, predicting stock market behavior) require massive computational resources and cognitive computing capability that call for major advances in computing machinery. Progress in meeting these challenges has been stymied by two obstacles: (1) the excessive energy dissipation that occurs in performing a computation, and (2) the lack of ‘multi-functionality’ which allows the same device to perform a computation and then store the result, thereby doubling as both logic and memory.

We have developed the field of “straintronic computing” which is an extremely energy-efficient hardware platform where nanotransistors that act as the basic digital switch are replaced with multiferroic nanomagnets. The nanomagnets switch between two stable magnetization states which encode the binary bits 0 and 1. The switching is accomplished by mechanically straining the multiferroinc nanomagnets with a tiny voltage (few mV) which results in a miniscule energy dissipation of few aJ (1-2 orders of magnitude less than in state-of-the-art nanotransistors). We have experimentally demonstrated Boolean logic operation, Bennett clocking and non-volatile rewritable non-toggle memory with Co and FeGa nanomagnets fabricated on a piezoelectric PMN-PT substrate. The energy dissipation per bit operation extrapolated from the experimental results is 3-4 aJ for scaled devices.

Straintronic logic is non-volatile, i.e. the Boolean gate remembers the output bits after powering off. This feature can be exploited to build powerful computing architectures such as Bayesian inference engines which can compute in the presence of uncertainty (stock market, disease progression). The device characteristics can be engineered to have unusual features (e.g. a sharp notch in the transfer characteristic) which can be exploited to build ternary content addressable memory with high device density and low standby power dissipation. This talk will provide a broad overview of straintronic computing and discuss recent progress.

Dinner Menu

Homestyle meatloaf with gravy

Sriracha Fried Chicken

Roasted potato wedges

squash succotash

salad and rolls

assorted cupcake and cookies

pepsi/aquafina assortment

 

There will be free parking in the parking lot just south of the Library from 6pm to 9:30pm on Tuesday night.  Parking in any other campus lot will be $1.

 

NOTICE: Student dinner registration will be limited to 30 students.  The dinner fee of $10 must be paid through PayPal at the time of registration.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please use the registration system below. The system is available if the text "Click Here to Register" is displayed in large red letters on a yellow background below. Please contact Bob Lesniewski (r.lesniewski@verizon.net) with any issues. After selecting “Click here to Register”: If you wish to attend the dinner… Please select the "Dinner" option under the "Menu Selection:" Drop-down box. Now select dinner fee appropriate to you.  TWO WAYS TO PAY (You must Register) 1) PayPal – Use the [Register and pay the fee now] button. 2) Check or cash at the door – Use the [Register and pay the fee at the meeting] button.       Please make checks payable to “IEEE Susquehanna Section”.

If you wish to attend the presentation ONLY… Please select the "Presentation only no dinner" option under the "Menu Selection:" Drop-down box. Select the Presentation Only which has a 0 fee option under the "Registration Fee" drop-down box.  Then select (Register & Pay Later) button to complete registration.

DINNER RESERVATION CANCELLATION POLICY An email to Meeting Contact prior to the close of reservations is required to properly cancel your reservation. Refunds for PayPal payments are complicated, and we request that you leave the funds on deposit for a future meeting.

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Dinner: 6:30-7:30 (Registration Required) Members/Guests: $20.00, Life Members: $10,  Students: $10

Presentation: 7:30-8:30 Members/Guests: FREE Students: FREE  (Registraion Required)

 

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