Access and Feeds

Computing: Exotic Magnetic Materials to Improve Computing

By Dick Weisinger

Computers are essential for our modern society, but they also consume a lot of energy and generate a lot of heat. What if we could make them more efficient and faster by using a strange material that has both electric and magnetic properties?

There is a material discovered with those properties. This material is called manganese-doped germanium telluride (Mn-doped GeTe), and it belongs to a class of materials called multiferroics. Multiferroics are sensitive to both electric and magnetic fields, which means that they can be controlled by both voltage and current. This gives them an advantage over conventional materials, which can only be controlled by one or the other.

Researchers from EPFL, Johannes Kepler University Linz, and the University of West Bohemia have discovered that Mn-doped GeTe has a surprising magnetic behavior that makes it even more attractive for computing applications. Unlike normal magnets, which align with a magnetic field, Mn-doped GeTe behaves like a ferrimagnet, which is like two magnets with slightly different strengths superimposed on top of each other.

This means that the direction of magnetization can be switched more easily and with less energy. The researchers found a way to do this by applying a small, fluctuating electric current, followed by a tiny current nudge at the right moment. They called this phenomenon “stochastic resonance”, and it could reduce the energy needed to switch a single bit by six orders of magnitude.

This could lead to computers that are more energy-efficient, compact, and powerful. Mn-doped GeTe could also enable new applications in quantum computing, cryptography, and artificial intelligence. However, there are still many challenges and opportunities ahead, such as improving the quality and reliability of the material, developing new algorithms and software for using it, and ensuring its ethical and social impact.

Mn-doped GeTe is a strange material that is one example of how materials science can discover and create new materials with exotic properties that can revolutionize technology and society. As we enter the new year, we can expect more breakthroughs and discoveries in this exciting and promising field.

Digg This
Reddit This
Stumble Now!
Buzz This
Vote on DZone
Share on Facebook
Bookmark this on Delicious
Kick It on DotNetKicks.com
Shout it
Share on LinkedIn
Bookmark this on Technorati
Post on Twitter
Google Buzz (aka. Google Reader)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*