How 2D Materials Could Lead to Faster Computers
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In a recent discovery, scientists researched a new area called spintronics, which uses electrons’ spin to perform calculations. Current electronics use the electron charge to make calculations. But monitoring the spin of electrons has proved difficult. A team led by the Division of Materials Science at the University of Tsukuba claims to have used electron spin resonance (ESR) to monitor the number and location of unpaired spins moving through a molybdenum disulfide transistor. ESR uses the same physical principle as the MRI machines that create medical images. “Imagine building a quantum computer application sufficient to simulate the safety and efficacy of clinical drug trials—without ever testing them on a real person.” To measure the transistor, the device had to be cooled to just 4 degrees above absolute zero. "The ESR signals were measured simultaneously with the drain and gate currents," Professor Kazuhiro Marumoto, co-author of the study, said in a news release. A compound called molybdenum disulfide was used because its atoms form a nearly flat two-dimensional (2D) structure. "Theoretical calculations further identified the origins of the spins," Professor Małgorzata Wierzbowska, another co-author, said in the news release.
How 2D Materials Could Lead to Faster Computers
Radical advances could mean innovative technologies
By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 11, 2021 12:27PM EST Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming GamingKey Takeaways
Researchers say that using two-dimensional materials could lead to faster computers. The discovery could be part of a coming revolution in the field that includes quantum computers. Honeywell recently announced that it had set a new record for quantum volume, a measure of overall performance. Omar Osman / Getty Images Recent advances in physics could mean significantly faster computers leading to a revolution in everything from drug discovery to understanding climate change effects, experts say. Scientists have detected and mapped the electronic spins in a new type of transistor. This research may lead to faster computers that take advantage of electrons’ natural magnetism instead of just their charge. The discovery could be part of a coming revolution in the field that includes quantum computers. "Quantum computers process information in a fundamentally different way than classical computers, which enable them to solve problems that are virtually unsolvable with today’s classical computers," John Levy, co-founder and CEO of the quantum computing firm Seeqc, said in an email interview. "For instance, in an experiment performed by Google and NASA, the results from a specific quantum application were generated in a small number of minutes compared to the estimated 10,000 years it would take the most powerful supercomputer in the world."Two-Dimensional Materials
In a recent discovery, scientists researched a new area called spintronics, which uses electrons’ spin to perform calculations. Current electronics use the electron charge to make calculations. But monitoring the spin of electrons has proved difficult. A team led by the Division of Materials Science at the University of Tsukuba claims to have used electron spin resonance (ESR) to monitor the number and location of unpaired spins moving through a molybdenum disulfide transistor. ESR uses the same physical principle as the MRI machines that create medical images. “Imagine building a quantum computer application sufficient to simulate the safety and efficacy of clinical drug trials—without ever testing them on a real person.” To measure the transistor, the device had to be cooled to just 4 degrees above absolute zero. "The ESR signals were measured simultaneously with the drain and gate currents," Professor Kazuhiro Marumoto, co-author of the study, said in a news release. A compound called molybdenum disulfide was used because its atoms form a nearly flat two-dimensional (2D) structure. "Theoretical calculations further identified the origins of the spins," Professor Małgorzata Wierzbowska, another co-author, said in the news release.