Heat Dissipation Bounds for Nanocomputing: Methodology and Applications

Heat dissipation is a critical challenge facing the realization of emerging nanocomputing technologies. There are different components of this dissipation, and a part of it comes from the unavoidable cost of implementing logically irreversible operations. This stems from the fact that information is physical and manipulating it irreversibly requires energy. The unavoidable dissipative cost of losing information irreversibly fixes the fundamental limit on the minimum energy cost for computational strategies that utilize ubiquitous irreversible information processing. A relation between the amount of irreversible information loss in a circuit and the associated energy dissipation was formulated by Landauer\u27s Principle in a technology-independent form. In a computing circuit, in addition to the nformation-theoretic dissipation, other physical processes that take place in association with irreversible information loss may also have an unavoidable thermodynamic cost that originates from the structure and operation of the circuit. In conventional CMOS circuits such unavoidable costs constitute only a minute fraction of the total power budget, however, in nanocircuits, it may be of critical significance due to the high density and operation speeds required. The lower bounds on energy, when obtained by considering the irreversible information cost as well as unavoidable costs associated with the operation of the underlying computing paradigm, may provide insight into the fundamental limitations of emerging technologies. This motivates us to study the problem of determining heat dissipation of computation in a way that reveals fundamental lower bounds on the energy cost for circuits realized in new computing paradigms. In this work, we propose a physical-information-theoretic methodology that enables us to obtain such bounds for the minimum energy requirements of computation for concrete circuits realized within specific paradigms, and illustrate its application via prominent nanacomputing proposals. We begin by introducing the unavoidable heat dissipation problem and emphasize the significance of limitations it imposes on emerging technologies. We present the methodology developed to obtain the lower bounds on the unavoidable dissipation cost of computation for nanoelectronic circuits. We demonstrate our methodology via its application to various non-transistor-based (e.g. QCA) and transistor-based (e.g. NASIC) nanocomputing circuits. We also employ two CMOS circuits, in order to provide further insight into the application of our methodology by using this well-known conventional paradigm. We expand our methodology to modularize the dissipation analysis for QCA and NASIC paradigms, and discuss prospects for automation. We also revisit key concepts in thermodynamics of computation by focusing on the criticisms raised against the validity of Landauer\u27s Principle. We address these arguments and discuss their implications for our methodology. We conclude by elaborating possible directions towards which this work can be expanded

Efforts to Control Information Flows

Since the mid-20th century, the importance of intellectual property rights have become a major avenue for governments, corporations, and other groups to control and limit the diffusion of scientific and technical information. Some of these limits are efforts to regulate who has what information through general censorship

Case Study: Narmada Dams Controversy

This case study looks at one of the more famous instances of transnational involvement in stakeholder struggles over large dams: the long-running contention over dam construction on the Narmada Rover in India. Though proposals to build large dams on the Narmada inspired political controversy from the day the first proposals were made in 1947-48, only in the mid-1980s did the controversy take on the transnational aspects for which it is now famous as critics took up the cause of those who would be displaced as the reservoirs created by the dams filled up and raised environmental concerns about the project

Narmada dams controversy -- case summary

"This case study looks at one of the more famous instances of transnational involvement in stakeholder struggles over large dams: the long-running contention over dam construction on the Narmada River in India. Though proposals to build large dams on the Narmada inspired political controversy from the day the first proposals were made in 1947-48, only in the mid-1980s did the controversy take on the transnational aspects for which it is now famous as critics took up the cause of those who would be displaced as the reservoirs created by the dams filled up and raised environmental concerns about the project." Part of the International Dimensions of Ethics Education in Science and Engineering Case Studies Series

Case Study: Recruitment of Egg Donors by South Korean Stem Cell Researchers

This case study examines the controversy surrounding Dr. Hwang Woo-suk\u27s recruitment of egg donors for his team\u27s stem cell research from 2002 through 2005. It explores the international dimensions of ethical standards, the political decentralization of global regulation, and the internationalization of science

Quantum games and interactive tools for quantum technologies outreach and education

We provide an extensive overview of a wide range of quantum games and interactive tools that have been employed by the quantum community in recent years. We present selected tools as described by their developers, including "Hello Quantum, Hello Qiskit, Particle in a Box, Psi and Delta, QPlayLearn, Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap, Quantum Odyssey, ScienceAtHome, and the Virtual Quantum Optics Laboratory." In addition, we present events for quantum game development: hackathons, game jams, and semester projects. Furthermore, we discuss the Quantum Technologies Education for Everyone (QUTE4E) pilot project, which illustrates an effective integration of these interactive tools with quantum outreach and education activities. Finally, we aim at providing guidelines for incorporating quantum games and interactive tools in pedagogic materials to make quantum technologies more accessible for a wider population. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Peer reviewe