Eiichi Goto - Böcker

Quantum Flux Parametron(QFP) is a Josephson junction device which uses the polarities of a unit of quantum flux to represent a bit of binary information. The low power consumption and the inductive nature of signal transfer of QFP promise the realizability of a highly integrated Josephson Supercomputer. The miniaturization and the inductively connected circuits pose new challenges and problems to the designers of such a computer system. This volume contains five papers which provide detailed illustrations of the essential problems in the design of Josephson Supercomputers.The problems include (i) the three-dimensional packaging problems in the highly integrated system, (ii) the detection of trapped magnetic quanta, (iii) the computation of three-dimensional inductance and (iv) the elimination or alleviation of various internal and external operational problems of QFP arising from the limitation of the current fabrication technology as well as the inherent problems of direct coupling of QFP

This book concerns a Josephson device for supercomputers which has extremely low heat dissipation (about 106 times less than semiconductor devices and 103 times less than voltage-based Josephson devices). In the previous book on Quantum Flux Parametrons (QFPs), DC Flux Parametron, the basic device operation are described. This book deals in much greater depth on the problems which are faced by the QFP. The device characteristics are worked out in detail showing clearly the analysis methods used. A new logic gate using the QFP is described with respect to its basic scheme, operation, and ways for forming logic circuits. The problems faced by the basic QFP are much reduced in the new logic gate. As the QFP operates near the Heisenberg and Boltzmann limits for computing devices, we also show the relationship between speed and stability. The book contains the latest analytical results on QFPs.The material presented in the book can be understood with very little mathematical training or knowledge about superconducting physics. It is also self-contained and does not require reading of other material. Most of the device characteristics can be reproduced from the equations given using simple programs. A circuit simulator is not needed except for high speeds when transient behavior becomes important.

This volume reports new developments on work in the Quantum Flux Parametron (QFP) project. It makes complete a series on Josephson Supercomputers, which includes four earlier volumes, also published by World Scientific. QFP technology has great potential especially in the design of computer architecture. It is regarded as being able to go beyond the horizon of current technology, and is a leading direction for the advancement of computer technology in the next decade.