University of Alberta National Nanotechnology Center and the German Max Planck Institute for joint research team, they create a miniature switches or transistors than the current market of nearly 100 times smaller atomic switch, it will bring less , More efficient computers. Related research has been published on October 26 this year, "natural communication" (Nature Communications) magazine.
A transistor used in a computer is a key valve in a circuit that controls the flow of electrons. At present the smallest transistor is about 14 nanometers, 1 nanometer can accommodate about 1000 atoms, Alberta research team made atomic switch can be reduced to only a few atoms so much.
The invention can bring more energy efficient and smaller size of the computer, whether it is an ordinary computer or quantum computer, which solve the growing digital device energy consumption is very important. About 3% of the world's energy is used for digital information exchange and computers, and many reports are expected to increase its energy consumption to 10% or 15% over the next few decades. This technology can help create ultra-low-power electronics equipment. The team's goal is to produce electronic devices that are 1,000 times less energy-efficient than current computers or cell phones.
Atomic size manufacturing is changing the world, is now just beginning, experts predict it will last at least a century, atomic size manufacturing will be revolutionary.