NOR gate response in a double quantum ring: An exact result

Abstract

NOR gate response in a double quantum ring, where each ring is threaded by a magnetic flux $\phi$, is investigated. The double quantum ring is sandwiched symmetrically between two semi-infinite one-dimensional metallic electrodes and two gate voltages, namely, $V_a$ and $V_b$, are applied, respectively, in lower arms of the two rings those are treated as the two inputs of the NOR gate. A simple tight-binding model is used to describe the system and all the calculations are done through the Green's function formalism. Here we exactly calculate the conductance-energy and current-voltage characteristics as functions of the ring-to-electrode coupling strengths, magnetic flux and gate voltages. Our numerical study predicts that, for a typical value of the magnetic flux $\phi=\phi_0/2$ ($\phi_0=ch/e$, the elementary flux-quantum), a high output current (1) (in the logical sense) appears if both the inputs to the gate are low (0), while if one or both are high (1), a low output current (0) results. It clearly demonstrates the NOR gate behavior and this aspect may be utilized in designing an electronic logic gate.