The quantum-effect device: Tomorrow's transistors

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Scientific American; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0388-96· OSTI ID:6973372

Bate, R T

There are limits on the size and number of circuit elements that can be packed on a computer chip. One is the wave behavior of electrons, which can interfere with performance in the smallest of devices. Physicists are not turning that behavior to their advantage in a new kind of component that depends on electron waves for its operation. With the so called quantum semiconductor device, it will be possible to put the circuitry of a supercomputer on a single chip. The structures for quantum devices have already been made using the same materials as today's chips. Because they can be about 100 times smaller than the devices in present-day integrated circuits, designing and fabricating a viable device presents a formidable challenge. Manufacturing processes will have to become considerably more sophisticated, and new strategies for interconnection and architecture will have to be devised to cope with the special problems of size reduction. 5 figs.

• OSTI ID: 6973372
• Journal Information: Scientific American; (USA), Vol. 258:3; ISSN 0036-8733
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONS
FABRICATION
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
QUANTIZATION
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RESONANCE
SILICON
SIZE
SUPERCOMPUTERS
TRANSISTORS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
COMPUTERS
DIGITAL COMPUTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FERMIONS
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
LEPTONS
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
PNICTIDES
SEMIMETALS
426000* - Engineering- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits- (1990-)
990200 - Mathematics & Computers