Gaussian Random Number Generator with Reconfigurable Mean and Variance using Stochastic Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Punyashloka Debashis; Hai Li; Dmitri Nikonov; Ian Young
- Source
- Subject
- FOS: Computer and information sciences
Computer Science::Hardware Architecture
Emerging Technologies (cs.ET)
Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall)
FOS: Physical sciences
Computer Science - Emerging Technologies
Disordered Systems and Neural Networks (cond-mat.dis-nn)
Condensed Matter - Disordered Systems and Neural Networks
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Language
- English
Generating high-quality random numbers with a Gaussian probability distribution function is an important and resource consuming computational task for many applications in the fields of machine learning and Monte Carlo algorithms. Recently, CMOS-based digital hardware architectures have been explored as specialized Gaussian random number generators (GRNGs). These CMOS-based GRNGs have a large area and require entropy sources at their input which increase the computing cost. Here, we propose a GRNG that works on the principle of the Boltzmann law in a physical system made from an interconnected network of thermally unstable magnetic tunnel junctions. The proposed hardware can produce multi-bit Gaussian random numbers at a gigahertz speed and can be configured to generate distributions with a desired mean and variance. An analytical derivation of the required interconnection and bias strengths is provided followed by numerical simulations to demonstrate the functionalities of the GRNG.
14 pages, 5 figures