UC Berkeley researchers have discovered a new way to switch the polarization of nanomagnets, paving the way for high-density storage to move from hard disks onto integrated circuits.
he advance, to be reported Monday, Aug. 3, in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could lead to computers that turn on in an instant, operate with far greater speed and use significantly less power.
A research team led by Sayeef Salahuddin, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, has found that tilting magnets slightly makes them easy to switch without an external magnetic field. This opens the door to a memory system that can be packed onto a microprocessor, a major step toward the goal of reducing energy dissipation in modern electronics.
“To reduce the power draw and increase the speed, we want to be able to manufacture a computer chip that includes memory so that it is close to the computational action,” said Salahuddin. “However, the physics needed to create long-term storage are not compatible with integrated circuits.”
Creating and switching polarity in magnets without an external magnetic field has been a key focus in the field of spintronics. Generating a magnetic field takes power and space, which is why magnets have not yet been integrated onto computer chips.
Instead, there are separate systems for long-term magnetic memory. These include a computer’s hard disk drive where data are stored, and the various kinds of random-access memory, or RAM, on the integrated circuits of the central processing unit, or CPU, where calculations and logic operations are performed.
A large portion of the energy used in computing is spent on transferring data from one type of memory to another. Doing that quickly takes more energy and generates more heat.
In past research, Salahuddin and his colleagues found that directing electrical current through the rare metal tantalum creates polarity in magnets without an external magnetic field. But the battle wasn’t over.
Packing a sufficient number of nanomagnets onto a chip meant aligning them perpendicularly, but that vertical orientation negated the switching effects of tantalum.
“We found that by tilting the magnet – just 2 degrees was enough – you get all the benefits of a high-density magnetic switch without the need for an external magnetic field,” said Salahuddin.
Read more: Small tilt in magnets makes them viable memory chips
The Latest on: Magnetic switching
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Magnetic switching” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Magnetic switching
- Your Nintendo Switch is about to become massively inferior - In more ways than oneon April 27, 2024 at 1:38 pm
According to YouTube influencer Doctre81, the Nintendo Switch 2 will also use faster chips developed by Samsung. Specifically, the Switch 2 will reportedly use Samsung's fifth-generation V-NAND chips, ...
- Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored to Have Magnetic Joy-Conson April 26, 2024 at 3:05 pm
N intendo is planning to use magnets in a fun new way with its upcoming Switch 2 video game console, according to a new report. The magnets will apparently be used to stick the Switch 2's Joy-Con ...
- Nintendo Switch 2 rumored to feature new magnetic Joy-Conson April 26, 2024 at 2:51 pm
According to a new Nintendo Switch 2 rumor, the new console will be larger than the old model with magnetic Joy-Cons.
- Rumors: Nintendo Switch 2 Might Have Magnetic Joy-Cons and Improved Hardware Featureson April 26, 2024 at 12:07 pm
According to a new leak, the long-rumored Nintendo Switch successor could replace the original’s rail-based Joy-Con joysticks with magnetic ones. Recent rumours reveal that it incorporates the ...
- Nintendo Switch 2 is Larger and Has Magnetic Joy-Cons, Says Reporton April 26, 2024 at 11:08 am
The Nintendo Switch 2 is something of an open secret, and many expect an official reveal relatively soon. While there is no news on that front, a recent report sheds some light on the system itself.
- Rumour: 'Switch 2' Will Reportedly Feature Magnetic Joy-Conson April 26, 2024 at 9:00 am
According to a new report from Spanish outlet Vandal (thanks, VGC ), the upcoming Switch successor - affectionately dubbed the 'Switch 2' - will ditch the rail system for the current Joy-Con ...
- Rumor: Nintendo Switch 2 Could Have Magnetic Joy-Conson April 26, 2024 at 8:36 am
A rumor claims that the next Nintendo console could have magnetic Joy-Cons, replacing the rail system used by the current Switch Joy-Cons.
- Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly be larger than its predecessor and feature magnetic Joy-Con controllerson April 26, 2024 at 8:13 am
Another day, another Nintendo Switch 2 rumor. This one, however, comes from a reliable source.
- Nintendo Switch 2 could have magnetic Joy-Conon April 26, 2024 at 7:14 am
A new rumor suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it will be called) could have magnetic Joy-Con, similar to the MSI Claw.
- Nintendo Switch 2 report details magnetic Joy-Con, Pro Controller compatibilityon April 26, 2024 at 4:59 am
Switch 2 will feature Joy-Con controllers that connect to the main console using magnets, a new report suggests.
via Bing News