Nanoscale Optical Computing Using Resonance Energy Transfer Logic

Drawing on the nanometer-placement capabilities of self-assembly fabrication methods, the authors propose a new nanoscale device based on a single-molecule optical phenomenon called resonance energy transfer. This device enables a complete integrated technology, providing a potential path to molecular-scale computing. The authors present several important circuit elements, show how to compose these elements into computational nodes, and outline initial steps toward a prototype system.