title: Photochromic molecular implementations of universal computation.
abstract: Unconventional computing is an area of research in which novel materials and paradigms are utilised to implement computation. Previously we have demonstrated how registers, logic gates and logic circuits can be implemented, unconventionally, with a biocompatible molecular switch, NitroBIPS, embedded in a polymer matrix. NitroBIPS and related molecules have been shown elsewhere to be capable of modifying many biological processes in a manner that is dependent on its molecular form. Thus, one possible application of this type of unconventional computing is to embed computational processes into biological systems. Here we expand on our earlier proof-of-principle work and demonstrate that universal computation can be implemented using NitroBIPS. We have previously shown that spatially localised computational elements, including registers and logic gates, can be produced. We explain how parallel registers can be implemented, then demonstrate an application of parallel registers in the form of Turing machine tapes, and demonstrate both parallel registers and logic circuits in the form of elementary cellular automata. The Turing machines and elementary cellular automata utilise the same samples and same hardware to implement their registers, logic gates and logic circuits; and both represent examples of universal computing paradigms. This shows that homogenous photochromic computational devices can be dynamically repurposed without invasive reconfiguration. The result represents an important, necessary step towards demonstrating the general feasibility of interfacial computation embedded in biological systems or other unconventional materials and environments.
authors.affiliation: Neurophotonics Lab, Schools of Biology, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD UK. Electronic address: jack.chaplin@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jack C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chaplin
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex BioSystems (ICOS) Research Group, School of Computing Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE1 7RU, UK. Electronic address: natalio.krasnogor@newcastle.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Natalio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krasnogor
authors.affiliation: Neurophotonics Lab, Schools of Biology, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK. Electronic address: noah.russell@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Noah A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D039301:Computers, Molecular; D005453:Fluorescence; D055096:Optical Devices; D055668:Photochemical Processes
keywords: Elementary cellular automata; Molecular switches; Photochromic molecules; Turing machines; Unconventional computing