IBM Scientists Find New Way to Shrink Transistors

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/science/ibm-scientists-find-new-way-to-shrink-transistors.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

by sew • 11 years ago

94 12 11 years ago

nytimes.com

heydenberk• 11 years ago

By simply swapping carbon nanotube transistors for conventional ones in a simulated IBM microprocessor, they were able to increase speeds by a factor of seven or, alternatively, achieve power savings almost as significant, said Wilfried Haensch, an IBM physicist who is a member of the research group.

In technology, one often comes across the use of the word "simply" to refer to something that's actually quite complicate (see the Druid docs[0]) but this is quite a doozy.

[0] http://cse.google.com/cse?cx=004325268462231820898:e4htgtatb...

VanillaCafe• 11 years ago

It's crazy to think that a major breakthrough like this with a factor of seven increase in transistor density is little more than four years of progress as measured by Moore's Law.

JoshTriplett• 11 years ago

It's crazy to think that a major breakthrough like this with a factor of seven increase in transistor density is little more than four years of progress as measured by Moore's Law.

In a single step, by switching to an experimental new process. It seems likely that, if that process pans out, it'll then get years of extensive refinement to improve both yield and density.

eru• 11 years ago

Moore's Law is a harsh mistress.

Countless breakthroughs have already been marshalled to bring us where we are. More are the order of the day.

0xcde4c3db• 11 years ago

The real challenge with CNTFETs is mass production. Without that, the roadmap doesn't budge.

jostmey• 11 years ago

The space smallest space between chemical synapses is ~20nm. It helps put the size of these transistors in perspective.

mrdrozdov• 11 years ago

Coming out in 2016. Moore's Law. The suspense movie with a surprise twist that you never saw coming.

davidaa• 11 years ago

I feel like this headline could read "Moore's Law To Be Kept Alive For Slightly Longer".

IBM Scientists Find New Way to Shrink Transistors

Related Stories