- Quantum flux parametron
Invented by
Eiichi Goto (後藤英一) at theUniversity of Tokyo , the Quantum Flux Parametron (QFP) is an improvement over his earlierparametron (パラメトロン) based digital logic technology. Unlike its predecessor, QFP uses superconductingJosephson junction s on integrated circuits to improve speed and energy efficiency enormously. In some applications, the complexity of thecryogenic cooling system required is negligble compared to the potential speed gains. While his design makes use of quantum principles, it is not aquantum computer technology, gaining speed only through higher clock speeds. Apart from the speed advantage over traditionalCMOS integrated circuit design is that parametrons can be operated with zero energy loss (no local increase inentropy ), makingreversible computing possible. Low energy use and heat generation is critical insupercomputer design, wherethermal load per unit volume is has become one of the main limiting factors.A related technology is the Rapid Single Flux Quantum digital logic.
External links
* [http://www.thocp.net/hardware/parametron.htm Parametron] , The History of Computing project
* [http://www.ipsj.or.jp/katsudou/museum/computer/0080_e.html Parametron] , early computers, Information Processing Society of Japan (情報処理学会)
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