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Work into new computer materials hopes to yield faster computers

In modern computers one major bottleneck is the slow communication from magnetic components and the semiconductors used in the computer’s processors. While lots of exotic solutions, from superconductors to quantum memoryand interconnects have been proposed, none are currently ready for the world of home computing.

New research by a team led by Giovanni Vignale, a University of Missouri College of Arts and Science professor, and expert in condensed matter physics aims to solve the problem of the materials divide in a different way. The new research aims to develop hybrid materials that can be used for both memory and logic functions. According to researchers, this would pave the way for ultra-speedy electronics.

The research team, composed of experts from several colleges has received part of a $6.5 million grant from the Department of Defense, which is given to further the study of nanomagnetics.

As it would be hard to create a silicon hybrid material, the researchers chose to focus on introducing magnetic properties into emerging types of semiconductors, such as organic semiconductors.

The researchers state that the benefits of such materials are across the board. Not only will hybrid materials raise the speed, they say, but they will also make devices more compact and energy efficient. Further, according to researchers, the hybrid materials chips are projected to cost less than traditional semiconductor chips, promising consumer savings.

Vignale explains the benefits, stating, “In this approach, the coupling between magnetic and non-magnetic components would occur via a magnetic field or flow of electron spin, which is the fundamental property of an electron and is responsible for most magnetic phenomena. The hybrid devices that we target would allow seamless integration of memory and logical function, high-speed optical communication and switching, and new sensor capabilities.”

He continues, “One of the main theoretical tools I will be using for this project is the time-dependent, spin-current density functional theory. It is a theory to which I have made many contributions over the years. The results of these theoretical calculations will be useful both to understand and to guide the experimental work of other team members.”

Obviously such materials will take a while to perfect and filter down to consumer electronics manufacturing, but one advantage to this new approach is that it could theoretically be manufactured on existing equipment, unlike quantum computing or superconducting computers, which would require more specialized processing.

Among the other researchers working on the project are Michael Flatté (University of Iowa), Andy Kent (New York University), Yuri Suzuki (University of California, Berkeley) and Jeremy Levy (University of Pittsburgh). John Prater of the Army Research Office is in charge of monitoring the progress of the new program.

dailytech.com