What is a molecular calculation?
Molecular Computing is a general term for any computing scheme that uses individual atoms or molecules as a means to solve computing problems. Molecular computer technology is most often associated with DNA calculation, as it has made the greatest progress, but can also refer to quantum computational or molecular logic gates. All forms of molecular computers are currently in their infancy, but in the long run they are likely to replace traditional silicone computers that suffer from higher performance barriers.
One kilogram of carbon contains atoms 5 x 10
25
. Imagine that we could only use 100 atoms to store one bit or perform a computing operation. Using massive parallelism, molecular computer technology weighing only a kilogram could process more than 10 operations per second per second, more than billions twice faster than today's best supercomputer, which works approximately 1017. With a much larger calculation Power, we could achieve calculations and simulations that unimaginable today.
various designs for molecular computers differ in the principles of their operations. In DNA calculation, DNA serves as software, while enzymes serve as hardware. The actual synthesized DNA chains are combined with enzymes in the tube and depending on the length of the resulting output string, the solution can be inferred. Calculation of DNA is extremely strong in its potential, but suffers from the main disadvantages. Calculation of DNA is non -universal, which means that there are problems that can not, nor in principle, solve. Can only return yes or-no answers to computational problems. In 2002, scientists in Israel created a DNA computer that could perform 330 trillion operations per second, more than 100,000 times faster than the speed of the fastest computer at that time.
Another design for molecular computer technicianAnd is a quantum computer technology. Quantum computer techniques use the calculation of quantum effects and the details are complicated. Quantum computer technology depends on atoms of super -cledged locked states. The main challenge is that with increasing the number of computational elements (QUBITS), it is more difficult to insulate the quantum computer from the outside, causing Dekorhere, eliminating quantum effects and restoring the computer to the classic state. This destroys the calculation. Quantum computer technology can still be developed into practical applications, but many physicists and computer scientists remain skeptical.
An even more advanced molecular computer would include the logical gates of nanoparticles or nanoelectronic components performing processing in a more conventional, versatile and more controlled way. Unfortunately, we currently lack the production ability necessary to produce such a computer. Nanoscpro implementation of this type of molecular computer would be necessary robotics Pie capableplace each atom in the required configuration. There is a preliminary effort to develop this type of robotics, but the main breakthrough may take decades.