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Neuromorphic processor using superconducting adiabatic quantum flux circuits

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18K13801
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 21060:Electron device and electronic equipment-related
Research InstitutionYokohama National University

Principal Investigator

Ayala Christopher  横浜国立大学, 先端科学高等研究院, 特任教員(准教授) (90772195)

Project Period (FY) 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
Keywordssuperconductor / computing / adiabatic / EDA / Josephson junction / aqfp / neuron / tensor / sfq / eda / microprocessor
Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have demonstrated the world's first adiabatic superconductor microprocessor using adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP) logic with its data processing component operating with a clock frequency of up to 2.5 GHz. This is the fastest adiabatic circuit to date and the largest functionally meaningful AQFP circuit ever with a device count of over 20,000 Josephson junctions. Because this is superconductor technology, the circuits must be cooled to cryogenic temperatures, but even if we consider the additional overhead in cooling power, the total system power is still 80x lower than state-of-the-art commercial semiconductor technology available today. Towards the development of this microprocessor, we also established a systematic design methodology so that we can consistently create more and more complex AQFP circuits via a top-down approach and a semi-custom approach. These results set the foundation for designing more novel neuromorphic processors with various components underway.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我々が開発した断熱的超伝導マイクロプロセッサは、エネルギー効率と高速性の面で格段に優れている。そのため、今後世界の電力消費の大きな割合を占めるデータセンターやスーパーコンピュータなどのハイエンド機器の消費電力を大幅に低減することができる。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2020 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • 2018 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (25 results)

All 2021 2020 2019 2018 Other

All Journal Article (6 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 6 results,  Peer Reviewed: 6 results,  Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (15 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 14 results,  Invited: 4 results) Remarks (4 results)

  • [Journal Article] Logic Synthesis of Sequential Logic Circuits for Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Logic2021

    • Author(s)
      Saito Ro、Ayala Christopher L.、Chen Olivia、Tanaka Tomoyuki、Tamura Tomohiro、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

      Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-5

    • DOI

      10.1109/tasc.2021.3061636

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Buffer Reduction via N-Phase Clocking in Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Benchmark Circuits2021

    • Author(s)
      Saito Ro、Ayala Christopher Lawrence、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

      Volume: - Issue: 6 Pages: 1-1

    • DOI

      10.1109/tasc.2021.3073837

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] MANA: A Monolithic Adiabatic iNtegration Architecture Microprocessor Using 1.4-zJ/op Unshunted Superconductor Josephson Junction Devices2021

    • Author(s)
      Ayala Christopher L.、Tanaka Tomoyuki、Saito Ro、Nozoe Mai、Takeuchi Naoki、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits

      Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Pages: 1152-1165

    • DOI

      10.1109/jssc.2020.3041338

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] MANA: A Monolithic Adiabatic iNtegration Architecture Microprocessor using 1.4zJ/op Superconductor Josephson Junction Devices2020

    • Author(s)
      Ayala Christopher L.、Tanaka Tomoyuki、Saito Ro、Nozoe Mai、Takeuchi Naoki、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      Proceedings of 2020 IEEE Symposium on VLSI Circuits

      Volume: - Pages: 1-1

    • DOI

      10.1109/vlsicircuits18222.2020.9162792

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] A semi-custom design methodology and environment for implementing superconductor adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron microprocessors2020

    • Author(s)
      Ayala Christopher L、Saito Ro、Tanaka Tomoyuki、Chen Olivia、Takeuchi Naoki、He Yuxing、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      Superconductor Science and Technology

      Volume: 33 Issue: 5 Pages: 054006-054006

    • DOI

      10.1088/1361-6668/ab7ec3

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Fabrication of Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Integrated Circuits Using an Automatic Placement Tool Based on Genetic Algorithms2019

    • Author(s)
      Tanaka Tomoyuki、Ayala Christopher L.、Xu Qiuyun、Saito Ro、Yoshikawa Nobuyuki
    • Journal Title

      IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity

      Volume: 29 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-6

    • DOI

      10.1109/tasc.2019.2900220

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report 2018 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A 4-bit RISC-dataflow AQFP MANA microprocessor: architecture, design challenges and demonstration2021

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Ro Saito, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Tomohiro Tamura, Naoki Takeuchi, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2020 Applied Superconductivity Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] 16-bit Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron SerDes Components2020

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Naoki Takeuchi, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      33rd International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Development of a Generic Two-Layer Channel Routing Algorithm for Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Logic Using Advanced Fabrication Processes2020

    • Author(s)
      Takehisa Yamada, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Ro Saito, Christopher Lawrence Ayala, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      33rd International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] N-Phase Clocking Methodology for Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Logic2020

    • Author(s)
      Ro Saito, Christopher L. Ayala, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      33rd International Symposium on Superconductivity (ISS 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A 4-bit RISC-dataflow AQFP MANA microprocessor: architecture, design challenges and demonstration2020

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Ro Saito, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Tomohiro Tamura, Naoki Takeuchi, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      Applied Superconductivity Conference 2020 (ASC 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Study of Clock Synchronization for High-Level Synthesis of Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Sequential Logic Circuits2020

    • Author(s)
      Ro Saito, Christopher L. Ayala, Olivia Chen, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Tomohiro Tamura, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      Applied Superconductivity Conference 2020 (ASC 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] A 16-bit parallel prefix carry look-ahead Kogge-Stone adder implemented in adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron logic2020

    • Author(s)
      Tomoyuki Tanaka, Christopher L. Ayala, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      Applied Superconductivity Conference 2020 (ASC 2020)
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] MANA: A Monolithic Adiabatic iNtegration Architecture Microprocessor using 1.4zJ/op Superconductor Josephson Junction Devices2020

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Ro Saito, Mai Nozoe, Naoki Takeuchi, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2020 Symposia on VLSI Technology and Circuits
    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] MANA: A Monolithic Adiabatic iNtegration Architecture Microprocessor Using 1.4zJ/op Superconductor Josephson Junction Devices2020

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Ro Saito, Mai Nozoe, Naoki Takeuchi, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2020 Symposia on VLSI Technology and Circuits
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Design-For-Testability Components for Large-Scale Digital Circuits2019

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Naoki Takeuchi, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2019 International Symposium on Superconductivity
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Component Demonstration of a RISC-based AQFP MANA Processor2019

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Mai Nozoe, Naoki Takeuchi, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2019 International Superconductive Electronics Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Quality of Results of Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Integrated Circuits Placed by the Genetic Algorithm2019

    • Author(s)
      Tomoyuki Tanaka, Christopher L. Ayala, Olivia Chen, Ro Saito, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      2019 International Superconductive Electronics Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] New Directions for Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Logic Computing2019

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      The 12th Superconducting SFQ VLSI Workshop
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Current Progress on the Development of a Stand-Alone Top-Down Design Environment for Adiabatic Quantum-Flux-Parametron Circuits2018

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala
    • Organizer
      Technical Meeting of the JSPS 146 Committee
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Invited
  • [Presentation] Development of an extremely energy-efficient AQFP microprocessor2018

    • Author(s)
      Christopher L. Ayala, Olivia Chen, Ro Saito, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Naoki Takeuchi, Yuki Yamanashi and Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
    • Organizer
      The 31st International Symposium on Superconductivity
    • Related Report
      2018 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Remarks] IAS超省エネルギープロセッサ研究ユニット

    • URL

      https://www.yoshilab.dnj.ynu.ac.jp/ias_e3p/

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] 超省エネルギープロセッサ研究ユニット

    • URL

      https://ias.ynu.ac.jp/news/20210322_media/index.html

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] Extremely energy efficient microprocessor (...)

    • URL

      https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-12/ynu-eee122820.php

    • Related Report
      2020 Annual Research Report
  • [Remarks] Extremely Energy-Efficient Processors

    • URL

      https://www.yoshilab.dnj.ynu.ac.jp/ias_e3p/

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report

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Published: 2018-04-23   Modified: 2022-01-27  

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