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Sponsored by the Air Force Office of Sponsored Research Program Monitor Dr. Ali Sayir |
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Original BAA |
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Dr. Alan Doolittle 209 Pettite MiRC Building Address: 777 Atlantic Dr. Atlanta, GA 30332-0250 alan.doolittle@ece.gatech.edu |
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For more information, contact Principle Investigator, Dr. Alan Doolittle. |
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Original Broad Agency Announcement ...
FY2017 MURI Topic 8 (AFOSR): Adaptive Oxides for Biomimetic Synapse Design via Modulation of Internal States
Background: The current generation of digital computers are composed of binary field-effect transistors with fixed-weight interconnects that perform Boolean functions. Fixed-weight, input/output relationships lead to existing digital computation approaches that are vastly superior for performing complex arithmetic and logic calculations, but which lag far behind the human brain in key areas such as adaptivity, generalization, fault tolerance, and pattern recognition. Breakthroughs in addressing these shortcomings are the goal of this research topic that concentrates on biologically emulative functions of adaptive oxides. Oxides display highly correlated electron effects that are capable of hosting a variety of coupled phenomena (phase transitions, and short- and long-range order) that can lead to surprisingly intricate behaviors, including memory effects. In biological systems, electrochemical pulses are transmitted between nerve cells through synapses. Synapse response is driven by an extensive array of molecular machinery that enables the transfer of signals, the strength of which is adaptive at the synapse, self-adjusting dynamically to external forces. In adaptive oxides, internal states are multi-valued and can be tuned in nonvolatile or quasi-stable manners by means of chemical potential or applied fields (electrical, magnetic or optical). These materials respond to stimuli in ways similar to neural synapses. The goal of this study is to identify potential oxide systems that can enable nonvolatile, biomimetic synapse design, and integration into adaptive computational platforms with adjustable-strength interconnects, fault-tolerance and functionality akin to the massive parallelism found in the human brain. This consideration requires bridging the relationship between information theory and nano-scale thermodynamics when quantum effects become important. Specific interest is to establish bounding limits for Landauer’s erasure limits, clarification of the thermodynamic cost of acquiring (or erasing) information conditioned by entropy of the system and explanation of quantum memory entangled with the system. A wealth of new functionality can be derived from the complex interplay between first-order phase transitions of oxides, defect interactions and correlated electron effects in these oxides. Incorporating this added functionality into analog computing and sensor systems of DoD could lead to revolutionary gains in device robustness, performance, and efficiency.
Objective: The overarching objective of this project is to develop the scientific basis for implementation of adaptive oxides in devices that, similar to biological systems, can learn and adapt to various inputs by means of modulation of internal states. This objective of adaptability requires design of oxides that can process information through dynamic self-adjustment of system parameters; i.e., by control of the physical density of states. Research Concentration Areas: Suggested research areas include: (1) Elucidate and exploit coupling of lattice, orbital, and charge degrees of freedom to control physical and chemical phenomena akin to biological systems. (2) Formulate principles for design of efficient nonvolatile memory based on adjustable internal states and achieve high endurance and retention. (3) Develop methodologies to create three-dimensional structures that allow for control of matter at the quantum levels. (4) Define fundamental limitations for quantum thermodynamics in nano-scale structure. (5) Develop theoretical and experimental techniques to characterize ground states by controlled modification of defects, interfaces, and surfaces, including effects far from equilibrium. This may require elucidating complex interplays between phase transitions and electronic/magnetic phase separation, untangling the interdependence between structural, electronic, photonic and magnetic effects, and understanding spin-, orbital, and lattice-coupling.
Anticipated Resources: It is anticipated that awards under this topic will be no more than an average of $1.5M per year for 5 years, supporting no more than 6 funded faculty researchers. Exceptions warranted by specific proposal approaches should be discussed with the topic chiefs during the white-paper phase of the solicitation.
Research Topic Chiefs: Dr. Ali Sayir, AFOSR, 703-696-7236, ali.sayir.2@us.af.mil; Dr.Tristan Nguyen, AFOSR tristan.nguyen@us.af.mil, Dr. John T. Prater, ARO, john.t.prater.civ@mail.mil. |