Reversible computation with Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA)

Quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) is a strategy in which binary data, is represented by charge configuration within a multi-dot cell. Data is transmitted to nearest neighbors by the Coulombic interaction. An electric field acts as a clock and imposes directionality on circuits. We have explored the connection between logical reversibility and physical reversibility in the context of a QCA system, explicitly calculating the energy dissipated by performing an erasure as a function of the time over which it is performed [1], Further, we present a Bennett-style clocking scheme to implement reversible computation that is natural to the circuits to minimize the amount of information that is erased. Molecular QCA may provide a practical implementation of reversible computing.