ToPoliNano: NanoMagnet Logic Circuits Design and Simulation

Among the emerging technologies Field-Coupled devices like Quantum dot Cellular Automata are one of the most interesting. Of all the practical implementations of this principle NanoMagnet Logic shows many important features, such like a very low power consumption and the feasibility with up-to-date technology. However its working principle, based on the interaction among neighbor cells, is quite different from CMOS circuits. Dedicated design and simulation tools for this technology are necessary to further study this technology, but at the moment there are no such tools available in the scientific scenario. In this chapter we present ToPoliNano, a software developed as a design and simulation tool for NanoMagnet Logic, that can be easily adapted to many other emerging technologies, particularly to any kind of Field-Coupled devices. ToPoliNano allows to design circuits following a top-down approach similar to the ones used in CMOS and to simulate them using a switch model specifically targeted for high complexity circuits. This tool greatly enhances the ability to analyze and optimize the design of Field-Coupled circuits.