Single-atom transistor busts the records

2012-02-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

Source:
AFP
February 20, 2012, 4:11 am

PARIS (AFP) - Researchers in Australia said on Sunday they had made with pinpoint accuracy a working transistor consisting of a single atom, marking a major stride towards next-generation, quantum computers.
The device comprises a single phosphorus atom, etched into a silicon bed, with "gates" to control electrical flow and metallic contacts that are also on the atomic scale.
"Our group has proved that it is really possible to position one phosphorus atom in a silicon environment, exactly as we need it, with near-atomic precision, and at the same time (incorporate) gates," said lead scientist Martin Fuechsle.

Transistors, which switch or amplify electrical flow, are the building blocks of computer chips. This new discovery in nanotechnology could lead to computers that perform billions of times faster than current devices.

For more than 50 years, the semi-conductor industry has been upholding Moore's Law, the celebrated prediction by Intel Corp. pioneer Gordon Moore that the number of transistors on a chip would double every 18 months or so.

But the astonishing run of success could hit a wall by the end of this decade without a breakthrough in miniaturising transistors.

"We decided 10 years ago to start this program to try and make single atom devices as fast as we could, and try and beat that law," said Michelle Simmons, director of the Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication at the University of New South Wales, where the work was carried out
The team made the transistor from a silicon crystal that was placed in a vacuum.

To etch it, they used a device called a scanning tunnelling microscope, which is able to see atoms and manipulate them using a super-fine metal tip.

Phosphorus atoms were deposited in a nano-scale "trench," covered with an inert layer of hydrogen, and the unwanted ones were then weeded out. A chemical reaction welded the "transistor" atom to the silicon surface.

The minute device operates in ultra-cold temperatures provided by liquid helium.
It is not a finished product but proof-of-principle, designed to show that single-atom devices can be built and controlled.

"Scientist have made atomic-scale transistors in the past, but through a chance find rather than by design," Simmons said.

"But this device is perfect," she said.

"This is the first time anyone has shown control of a single atom in a substrate [chip base] with this level of precise accuracy."

The research is reported in the specialist journal Nature Nanotechnology.

Antivirus Protection for Your Computer

2011-01-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

Computer Services and Fix all brand

Free Software Antivirus

In this century computers can catch virus very easy and needs any anti virus software for self protection and defense against any virus attack.

The computer virus can spread around exactly like human virus. Catch virus through email to your friend with virus infected, downloaded software, files or copy to your friends in a virus infected file.

14 Syndromes Virus Infected

Error massages came out during startup o running the computer.
The computer does not start properly.
The printers does not print
Some applications do not work properly.
Hard Drives, DVD Rom or USB drives cannot be read.
Menus are not the same as before.
Computer crashes any times.
Disk drive runs suddenly for not any reason.
The files lost.
Unusual error messages come.
Files CORRUPTED and cannot be read.
Date Modified does not match with date of last use.
Computer slows down or freezes many times.
File size changes for not any reason or increase in number of files when nothing has been added.

You need to prevent very soon for any of these catastrophic virus to your computer. It is absolutely necessary to protect your computer.

It is mandatory you must update your antivirus software every year with new versions and scans it regularly and it is good to follow the antivirus software company recommendation.

After the anti virus software is install new version or updated, restart your computer. Start scanning your computer before you run any program. If not virus detected, you are a lucky. If there are virus act immediately running the software recommend.

Anti Virus Software

Norton Antivirus 2010

BitDefender 2010

AVG Internet Security 2011 free version

COMPUTER SERVICES AND SALES

Single-atom transistor busts the records

Antivirus Protection for Your Computer