Title

Massively parallel computing on an organic molecular layer

Authors

Anirban Bandyopadhyay, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Ranjit Pati, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Satyajit Sahu, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan
Ferdinand Peper, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan
Daisuke Fujita, National Institute for Materials Science, Japan

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-25-2010

Abstract

Modern computers operate at enormous speeds—capable of executing in excess of 10¹³ instructions per second—but their sequential approach to processing, by which logical operations are performed one after another, has remained unchanged since the 1950s. In contrast, although individual neurons of the human brain fire at around just 10³ times per second, the simultaneous collective action of millions of neurons enables them to complete certain tasks more efficiently than even the fastest supercomputer. Here we demonstrate an assembly of molecular switches that simultaneously interact to perform a variety of computational tasks including conventional digital logic, calculating Voronoi diagrams, and simulating natural phenomena such as heat diffusion and cancer growth. As well as representing a conceptual shift from serial-processing with static architectures, our parallel, dynamically reconfigurable approach could provide a means to solve otherwise intractable computational problems.

Publisher's Statement

Publisher's version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys1636

Publication Title

Nature Physics

Recommended Citation

Bandyopadhyay, A., Pati, R., Sahu, S., Peper, F., & Fujita, D. (2010). Massively parallel computing on an organic molecular layer. Nature Physics, 369-375. http://doi.org/10.1038/nphys1636
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/122