The discovery of multiferroic materials has lead to a great interest in creating logic circuits which exploit both the magnetic and electrical properties of these materials. In this work we focus on self-assembled array structures of Magnetic Quantum Cellular Automata (MQCA) composed of multiferroic nanopillars which can be configured and clocked using solely electric fields. Furthermore, due to the switching nature of these nanopillars, the arrays can be reconfigured to implement read/write memory or multiple logic circuits in a similar fashion to FPGAs. Finally, we develop a SPICE model for the multiferroic nanopillars and demonstrate the functionality of the array.

Recently, with the discovery of multiferroic materials, there has been a great interest in creating logic devices which exploit both magnetic and electric properties of these materials. This paper proposes a reconfigurable array of magnetic automata (RAMA) made of multiferroic nanopillars which can be operated using electric fields. Furthermore, due to the switching nature of these nanopillars, the array can be reconfigured to implement multiple logic circuits in a similar fashion to FPGAs. The paper proposes a compact model of the multiferroic switching mechanism which can be used to describe the behavior of the nanopillars in a circuit simulator. In addition, results from micromagnetic simulations of the MQCA bits indicate that it can operate with energy consumptions that are magnitudes lower than conventional CMOS technologies. Finally, the paper discusses the reliability of the nanopillar switching and suggests ways to optimize the error rates.

This paper is both a review of some recent developments in the utilization of magnetism for applications to logic and memory and a description of some new innovations in nanomagnetics and spintronics. Nanomagnetics is primarily based on the magnetic interactions, while spintronics is primarily concerned with devices that utilize spin polarized currents. With the end of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) in sight, nanomagnetics can provide a new paradigm for information process using the principles of magnetic quantum cellular automata (MQCA). This paper will review and describe these principles and then introduce a new nonlithographic method of producing reconfigurable arrays of MQCAs and/or storage bits that can be configured electrically. Furthermore, this paper will provide a brief description of magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), the first mainstream spintronic nonvolatile random access memory and project how far its successor spin transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM) can go to provide a truly universal memory that can in principle replace most, if not all, semiconductor memories in the near future. For completeness, a description of an all-metal logic architecture based on magnetoresistive structures (transpinnor) will be described as well as some approaches to logic using magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs).

The ferromagnetic-core type of solenoid that is used as a trailed antenna for communications reception by submarines has not demonstrated adquate sensitivity to satisfy the performance requirements for deeply submerged submarines receiving extremely low frequency (ELF) transmissions from the planned Sanguine communications system. It is possible, however, that a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) can be adapted to this role successfully and can permit all requirements of platform depth, speed, and maneuverability to be met. The present status of SQUID's is described, and some laboratory measurements that prove the potential of these devices for the ELF communications reception capability are presented. The engineering development that must be pursued in the areas of 1) sensor and electronics dynamic range, 2) sensor orthogonality, and 3) refrigeration systems to make SQUID ELF sensors available as operational receiving antennas is also discussed.