Looped circuit solving math problem?
(clockLESS)
This might be gross nonsense, but at best might be crazy
opportunistic idea.
Take a combinatorial circuit (NO CLOCK), loop the inputs so it has
neither inputs nor inputs and power it on. If it reaches stable
state and it is logically consistent, this will represent some
boolean formula.
An example of significant importance is if the circuits computes
the MD5 hash function restricted to 128 bits of inputs. Connect
INPUT_i to OUTPUT_i for 0 < i <= 127. Logically consistent
stable state is MD5(x)=x.
There is math obstruction (check SE link) about which I don't care
since it just makes the idea "Monte Carlo". There is technical
obstruction too (SE and cpunks links).
A very simple technical experiment will be of interest to me:
Take n-bit full adder (addition modulo 2^n) and one or more
inverters. Loop many inputs to a single output using the inverters
between if necessary until the creature is fully looped. Loop in a
way a solution exists. The inverter is to avoid the trivial all
zeros solution.
Power on.
On cpunks "coderman" called this "adiabatic bruteforce" and
suggested it fails on current circuit technology.
Bounty 2 liters beers at local prices for the adder experiment
whatever the result is.
Links:
SE link
cpunks link
clockLESS