FLUX-1: Designing the First Generation of 20-GHz Superconductor RSFQ Microprocessors in 1.75-μm Technology

摘要

This paper presents the first single-chip superconductor FLUX-1 microprocessordesigned in rapid single flux quantum (RSFQ) logic and fabricated using 4-kA/cm2 1.75-pun Nb/A10x/Nb Josephson junction technology as a result of thecollaboration between SUNY-Stony Brook and TRW, Inc. A FLUX-1 chiprepresents an 8-bit microprocessor with a parallel architecture and a target clockrate of 17-20 GHz. It contains –65,800 Josephson junctions on a 10.6x13.2 mm2die with flip-chip packaging. Fabrication began in June 2001 with the first FLUX-1 chips available for testing in August 2001. We will discuss the FLUX-1architecture and organization as well as challenges in designing the first 20-GHzsuperconductor processor.