Fundamentally new, magnetic transistors work without electricity

Improving energy efficiency computing incomputer systems will provide a solution to the many challenges facing developers. Reducing energy consumption, in addition to the obvious economic effect, provides optimization of computer architecture by reducing the heat generated during operation of the system.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)created transistors that use magnetic waves, and practically do not need electricity. This invention allowed us to approach the creation of devices based on a magnetic field that can carry out calculations much more efficiently than modern electronics.

The basis of the invention, called Spintronic,the use of a spin wave, the quantum property of electrons in magnetic materials with a lattice structure, is supposed. Scientists from MIT have created a device in which spin waves are simulated by changing the magnetization of transistors, transmitting data using magnetic waves, as is customary in traditional electronic devices.

As a basis for Spintronic usedfilm material consisting of cobalt and nickel. The waves passing through this material changed the phase and decreased the amplitude, and switching the magnetic field did not require electricity. As a result, specialists were able to control two states of the spin wave, which allows transmitting data in the binary system of calculus (1 and 0) used in traditional computer technology.

The use of magnetic transistors will allow inthe future to create computer systems comparable in computational power to quantum computers. However, during their operation, a huge amount of energy will not be released, which will make them more compact and consume less energy, since there will be no need for cooling systems.

Source: mit.edu