Majority Voter Full Characterization for Nanomagnet Logic Circuits

The recently proposed Nanomagnet-based logic (NML) represents an innovative way to assemble electronic logic circuits. The low power consumption, combined with the possibility of maintaining the information stored without power supply, allows us to design low power digital circuits far beyond the limitations of CMOS technology. This paper is focused on the key logic block of NML, the majority voter (MV). It is thoroughly analyzed through detailed micromagnetic simulations, changing the geometrical parameters, and detecting logic behavior, timing performance, and energy dissipation. Our analysis enables us to derive important results, substantially enhancing the practical knowledge of NML. First, we demonstrate that NML circuits can be effectively fabricated not only using electron beam lithography, but also using high-end optical lithography without loosing performance. This is a promising opportunity for the future of this technology. Second, we demonstrate the robustness of the MV considering process variations and extracting useful guidelines for its technological implementation. Third, we show how, and how much, the alteration of magnets sizes and distances affect timing and energy consumption. Finally, fourth, we outline the problematic fabrication of the gate with real clock wires, and propose a modification that enables the fabrication of working gates, remarkably enhancing the possibilities of this technology.