Major Areas of Opportunity - Implications of Emerging Micro-and Nanotechnologies - page 60

processes and/or material properties that will have an impact at the funda-
mental level of information processing. Second, it seems likely that the
initial applications of any of these technologies will build on and enhance the
very strong base of existing integrated circuit technology, which will provide
the necessary backbone of functionality and integrability until an entirely
new computation paradigm emerges.
Recommendation T2. Exploration of the scientific frontiers involving new
procedures for fabrication at nanodimensions and new nanoscale materials,
properties, and phenomena should be supported. The Air Force should track,
assimilate, and exploit the basic ideas emerging from the research commu-
nity and continue to support both intra- and extramural activities. The focus
should be on understanding the fundamental processes for fabrication, and
on the unique properties of materials and devices structures at nanometer
dimensions. Extremely dense arrays of devices capable of manipulating bits
rapidly and reliably should be a dominant aspect of these investigations.
Individual devices with nanometer or molecular dimensions are demonstrat-
ing logical functions on a small scale with a limited number of examples.
Molecular electronics appears promising at present. There is potential for
new device innovations and for progress in computing architectures and
strategies. Quantum computing and quantum cryptography are examples of
the applications that may be enabled by further progress in micro- and
nanotechnology. The technology may develop rapidly once the scientific
principles and technological advantages are discovered and understood.
Finding 3-1. Space electronics is vital to the Air Force mission. The unique
characteristics of the exoatmospheric environment place special demands
on electronics that are outside the mainstream developments of the inte-
grated circuit industry.
Recommendation 3-1. The Air Force must maintain a research and devel-
opment effort in radiation-hardened electronics and must evaluate the con-
tinuing developments of micro- and nanotechnology for their applicability to
space. Some commercial developments, such as the move to silicon-on-
insulator (SOI) materials, have clear radiation hardness benefits; others, such
as molecular electronics, have yet to be evaluated in this context but are
likely to exacerbate the problems.
Finding 3-2. Communication is a critical aspect of information superiority.
The continuing trend to miniaturization is evident in this area as well as in
computation. Traditionally, communication has been dependent on a wider
materials base than computation as a result of the need for optical interac-
tions and for high-speed analog functions at microwave and RF frequencies.