학술논문

The Effect of Quantised Flux on AQFP Circuits for a Double-Active-Layered Niobium Fabrication Process
Document Type
Periodical
Source
IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond. Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on. 34(3):1-8 May, 2024
Subject
Fields, Waves and Electromagnetics
Engineered Materials, Dielectrics and Plasmas
Layout
Standards
Global Positioning System
Fabrication
Integrated circuit modeling
Superconducting films
Couplings
Adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP)
adiabatic logic
flux trapping
magnetic flux
quantum flux parametron
Language
ISSN
1051-8223
1558-2515
2378-7074
Abstract
Adiabatic quantum-flux-parametron (AQFP) is an ac-biased logic family noted for its extremely low switching energy of around 1.4 zJ per Josephson junction (JJ) at a clock frequency of 5 GHz. Therefore, the AQFP logic family provides a high-speed, ultra-low-energy alternative to CMOS technology. However, quantised flux, such as vortices, trapped in the superconductor film can adversely affect circuit operation. A conventional solution to vortices is the introduction of low potential holes, also known as moats, within the film. Although basic guidelines have been introduced from published circuits, there is currently no standard method for designing and analysing moats for AQFP circuits. The double gate process (DGP) is a double-active-layered niobium fabrication process that allows for more compact circuits. But the effects of quantised flux for AQFP circuits on both active layers are currently unknown. We use 3D parameter extraction software tools to analyse the effect of various moat structures for AQFP logic cells for DGP and improve layout and moat placement designs.