Progressing towards Next Generation Computing

For decades, computer performance has been driven largely by the increasing numbers of ever-smaller transistors squeezed into the machines' silicon brains. These Silicon Chips are the heart of our Digital Revolution.

Some Physicists from the McGill University have developed a system for measuring the energy involved in adding electrons to semi-conductor nanocrystals, also known as “quantum dots”. It is a technology that may revolutionize computing and other areas of science.

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Quantum Dots

The research team has developed a cantilever (beam) force sensor that enables individual electrons to be removed and added to a quantum dot and the energy involved in the operation to be measured. Being able to measure the energy at such minute levels is an important step in being able to develop an eventual replacement for the silicon chip in computers - the next generation of computing.

Computers currently work with processors that contain transistors that are either in an on or off position, while quantum computing would allow processors to work with multiple states. These will vastly increasing their speed while reducing their size even more.

The electronic principles of nano-systems also determine their chemical properties, so the team's research is relevant to making chemical processes "greener" and more energy efficient.

For example, this technology could be applied to lighting systems, by using nano-particles to improving their energy efficiency.