Computing architecture composed of next-neighbour-coupled optically pumpednanodevices

A new computing architecture composed of Coulomb-coupled optically pumped t wo-state nanodevices is proposed. A new four-level device, built from two c oupled two-state devices called 'molecular pair', is introduced. Simulation s on the equivalent circuit models of two-dimensional arrays composed of mo lecular pairs suggest that non-reciprocal pipelining wires, ring oscillator s and NAND gates can be built. It is shown that the optically pumped molecu lar pairs do not stack in meta-stable states, and they restore logic levels . Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.