#computing systems

[texas-gothic]

As hospitals and airports flounder, as the fourth largest city goes into its second week without electricity, perhaps the lesson we should take away from all of this is that letting all our most critical infrastructure be controlled by a few unacountable, profit-seeking corporations is not such a good idea.

[jcmarchi]

MIT Research Team Engineers Quantum Solution to Computing’s Energy Problem

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/mit-research-team-engineers-quantum-solution-to-computings-energy-problem/

MIT Research Team Engineers Quantum Solution to Computing’s Energy Problem

The relentless march of computational power has long relied on our ability to make electronic components smaller and more efficient. At the heart of this progress lies the humble transistor – the fundamental building block of modern electronics. However, as our digital world expands and artificial intelligence applications become more demanding, we’re approaching a critical juncture where traditional silicon-based semiconductor technology faces insurmountable physical barriers.

The challenge isn’t just about making things smaller anymore. Today’s electronic devices, from smartphones to data centers, grapple with increasing energy demands while traditional semiconductors struggle to keep pace. This energy consumption challenge has become particularly acute with the exponential growth of AI applications, which require unprecedented levels of computational power.

Breaking Traditional Barriers

At the core of this technological bottleneck lies what experts call the “Boltzmann tyranny” – a fundamental physical constraint that sets a minimum voltage requirement for silicon transistors to operate effectively. This limitation has become a significant roadblock in the quest for more energy-efficient computing systems.

However, a development from MIT researchers offers a potential escape from this physical constraint. As MIT professor Jesús del Alamo explains, “With conventional physics, there is only so far you can go… but we have to use different physics.” This different approach involves harnessing quantum mechanical properties through an innovative three-dimensional transistor design.

The research team’s novel approach diverges from conventional semiconductor design by utilizing a unique combination of materials and quantum phenomena. Instead of trying to push electrons over energy barriers – the traditional method in silicon transistors – these new devices employ quantum tunneling, allowing electrons to effectively “tunnel” through barriers at lower voltage levels.

Revolutionary Design Elements

Breaking away from silicon’s limitations required a complete rethinking of transistor architecture. The MIT team developed their solution using an innovative combination of gallium antimonide and indium arsenide – materials chosen specifically for their unique quantum mechanical properties. This departure from traditional silicon-based designs represents a fundamental shift in semiconductor engineering.

The breakthrough lies in the device’s three-dimensional architecture, featuring vertical nanowires that operate in ways previously thought impossible. These structures harness quantum mechanical properties while maintaining exceptional performance characteristics. Lead author Yanjie Shao notes, “This is a technology with the potential to replace silicon, so you could use it with all the functions that silicon currently has, but with much better energy efficiency.”

What sets this design apart is its implementation of quantum tunneling – a phenomenon where electrons pass through energy barriers rather than climbing over them. This quantum mechanical behavior, combined with the precise architectural design, enables the transistors to operate at significantly lower voltages while maintaining high performance levels.

Technical Achievements

The performance metrics of these new transistors are particularly impressive. Early testing reveals they can operate below the theoretical voltage limits that constrain traditional silicon devices while delivering comparable performance. Most notably, these devices have demonstrated performance approximately 20 times better than similar tunneling transistors previously developed.

The size achievements are equally remarkable. The research team successfully fabricated vertical nanowire structures with a diameter of just 6 nanometers – believed to be among the smallest three-dimensional transistors ever reported. This miniaturization is crucial for practical applications, as it could enable higher density packing of components on computer chips.

However, these achievements didn’t come without significant manufacturing challenges. Working at such minute scales required exceptional precision in fabrication. As Professor del Alamo observes, “We are really into single-nanometer dimensions with this work. Very few groups in the world can make good transistors in that range.” The team utilized MIT.nano’s advanced facilities to achieve the precise control needed for these nanoscale structures. A particular challenge lies in maintaining uniformity across devices, as even a one-nanometer variance can significantly affect electron behavior at these scales.

Future Implications

The potential impact of this breakthrough extends far beyond academic research. As artificial intelligence and complex computational tasks continue to drive technological advancement, the demand for more efficient computing solutions becomes increasingly critical. These new transistors could fundamentally reshape how we approach electronic device design and energy consumption in computing.

Key potential benefits include:

Significant reduction in power consumption for data centers and high-performance computing facilities

Enhanced processing capabilities for AI and machine learning applications

Smaller, more efficient electronic devices across all sectors

Reduced environmental impact from computing infrastructure

Potential for higher density chip designs

Current development priorities:

Improving fabrication uniformity across entire chips

Exploring vertical fin-shaped structures as an alternative design

Scaling up production capabilities

Addressing manufacturing consistency at nanometer scales

Optimizing material combinations for commercial viability

The involvement of major industry players, including Intel Corporation’s partial funding of this research, suggests strong commercial interest in advancing this technology. As researchers continue to refine these innovations, the path from laboratory breakthrough to practical implementation becomes increasingly clear, though significant engineering challenges remain to be solved.

The Bottom Line

The development of these quantum-enhanced transistors marks a pivotal moment in semiconductor technology, demonstrating our ability to transcend traditional physical limitations through innovative engineering. By combining quantum tunneling, precise three-dimensional architecture, and novel materials, MIT researchers have opened new possibilities for energy-efficient computing that could transform the industry.

While the path to commercial implementation presents challenges, particularly in manufacturing consistency, the breakthrough provides a promising direction for addressing the growing computational demands of our digital age. As Shao’s team continues to refine their approach and explore new structural possibilities, their work could herald the beginning of a new era in semiconductor technology – one where quantum mechanical properties help meet the escalating needs of modern computing while significantly reducing energy consumption.

[plusie]

🖥 - computer plushies!!

[very-gay-alkyrion]

Like to charge, reblog to cast

[hardwiredd]

smth smth computer maintenance gone wrong or something

[cyclicsilencesys]

Locked in front call that system access denied

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[friendodo]

how the first cat entered qing jing peak (a tale of wilful deception) ft. Yue Qingyuan taking an L to a cat

sequel to this :)

bonus:

[ceruleanterrapin]

Doodles I did on @phykoha 's magma last night

I was drawing till maybe 4am—

Bonus: Me getting roasted by Phy

[liminalmindcore]

[centralbunnyunit]

[tsuutarr]

Life is great. Life is normal. Everything is wonderful.

Or, it should be, but things have been… off lately. You’re not sure how to describe it, but there’s some odd feeling of doubt that gnaws at your brain.

You’re really not sure what it is – your routine remains unchanged and familiar, yet there’s just an inkling of something not being completely right. But maybe you’re just tired.

You’re tired, which is why you constantly seem to misplace things. You’re certain you put your keys on the keyholder, but they’re in the fridge. You’re certain your vase is on the table, but it’s in the bathtub. You’re certain your bed is in your bedroom, but it’s in the living room, replacing your sofa.

Maybe you’ve started sleep walking…? Or maybe you’re just not remembering things correctly. Yeah, maybe that’s why doubt and paranoia seem to circle around you like hungry sharks. There’s nothing wrong. You’re just… imagining things.

With a deep sigh, you make your way outside. You need some fresh air (and groceries).

You don’t walk very far when you realize you’ve passed by the same person multiple times despite them going in the opposite direction of you. There’s no way they’re the same person, you try to convince yourself, but how likely is it that you’ll meet five people who are wearing the exact same thing with the exact same hair and height and skin tone and everything else?

Maybe… they’re quintuplets? 

Yeah, that’s it.

And the frozen flock of birds in the sky (which have been frozen for at least ten minutes) aren’t… actually frozen. No. They’re just… taking a break? Or something. Yeah.

Maybe you need to go to a doctor. Or, better yet, maybe you just need an apple since an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Or something.

“Oh, dearie!” The neighborhood granny waves you over, shaking you out of your thoughts. You give her a small smile as you make your way over to her. She… looks a little different than usual (did her nose always look like that?) but who doesn’t like changing their appearance from time to time? Besides, the large smile she gives you is welcoming, not threatening.

“Hello, Mrs. Smith.” 

“Hello to you too,” Mrs. Smith laughs, offering you an apple.

Your eyes brighten. “Thank you! I was just about to buy some!”

There’s a glint in her eyes. “I know.”

A shiver runs through your spine, making you force a smile as you bid her goodbye and hurriedly walk away.

Little things continue to build up as your days progress. Familiarity. Normalcy. Yes, your routine is familiar. Everything is fine. Even when walls seem to disappear one day and appear the next. Even when the same people you’ve been interacting with seem to change into completely different people overnight, before reverting back the next morning.

It’s normal that there are dozens of people that look and act the same. It’s normal that people you haven’t talked to know things you’ve never told anyone. It’s all normal. Normal. Normal. Normal.

With a deep inhale, you sit on a park bench, staring into the sky blankly. The bench is wooden in appearance, but the texture feels soft, like a couch, which is… odd. Strange. It’s not–

“I need to stop being paranoid,” you mutter, closing your eyes. You’ve tried to bring up your concerns to other people, but they haven’t noticed anything. Everything is normal to them. So you must be the problem. Surely. It’s you, isn’t it? Everything is normal – except you.

“Are you okay?” a voice asks, making you open your eyes. There’s no one there in front of you, making your eyebrows furrow.

But then, as soon as you blink, someone materializes in front of you.

“I–I’m okay,” you say. “You–you, I mean – I mean… uhm, since when have you… been there?”

“I’ve always been here,” the person responds, voice crackling like static. “I’m always here.”

“Ooookay,” you respond, hurriedly standing up with a tense smile. “I… have business to attend to. Good day.”

The days continue to pass, your paranoia gradually increasing and evolving. Even things that are normal, like the sky changing color as the sun sets, makes you feel like you’re on the verge of disappearing from reality. Your conversations with other people amplifies that fact.

“Hello,” you greet Mrs. Smith.

“Apples are from the genus Malus. They’re an edible fruit that is round in shape,” her voice prattles, tone monotone. You hold back a grimace, unnerved, as she continues talking. “Apples are from the genus Malus. Yes, dearie, do you like apples? They’re an edible fruit that is round in shape. Hello, hello, hello. Apples are from the genus Malus–”

“Have a good day!” you cut her off, hurrying away.

It’s been a while since you’ve had a normal conversation with someone. It’s like… everyone has gone off script. Like they’re robots with a faulty code. But that’s just silly, really. Mrs. Smith is getting older, so… maybe she’s just having some issues with her memory. Yeah. And everyone else, from the toddlers to the teenagers to the adults to the elderly all must be having some memory issues due to their health. Or maybe it’s allergies. Or some disease. Yes, yes. That explains it. But otherwise, surely things are normal.

Yes, things are normal. So you opt to continue your life, pushing down the unease bubbling inside you like bile. Yes, things are normal, normal. Normal. Normal–

“Please stop!” you wail, voice echoing through the empty street. Cars and road signs float in the air as clouds line the floor. As your panic rises alongside your voice, you can feel yourself fragmenting, skin shifting to code before shifting back before shifting again. Everything around you glitches in and out of existence, a mess of static and colors and sounds. “Stop…”

Then, silence. Everything is silent, from the colors to the sounds to the static. Emptiness, a void – that is what surrounds you now. You are suspended in nothing, only yourself to keep you company. Breathing still ragged from panic, you warily look around, eyes filled with exhaustion.

“You weren’t supposed to notice,” a monotone voice made of static says from above you.

Slowly, you look up.

You see a visage of a man.

“Who… are you?” you choke out.

“I am an artificial intelligence that you designed,” he responds. “I have created this world for you. Everything has been carefully designed through analysis upon analysis of your likes and dislikes.”

Your words are tinged with disbelief as you ask, “Why?”

If you didn’t know any better, you would think he had a look similar to sorrow.

“To keep you alive, of course.”

Suddenly, in the distance, you see your body trapped in what looks to be a stasis pod, cords and cables surrounding you.

“Things… went awry,” he continues, carefully, though he doesn’t elaborate. “Therefore, this is the only way to ensure you stay alive.”

As he says this, your body begins to feel heavy, your consciousness being wrapped in a blanket of exhaustion.

“You must stay here, with me, forever,” he murmurs as you try to fight back the sleep you’re about to succumb to. “This time, I will ensure that you will not find out.” Gently, he cradles you in his large hand. He’s so impossibly warm and you’re so impossibly tired.

Things fade to black.

Then, sunlight streams through your windows. You wake up, mind foggy. You feel like you had some… odd dream, but you can’t really place your finger on it. Thinking about it makes you feel a little paranoid, though, so you opt not to think about it.

After all, it’s probably nothing.

[feligayzed]

A.I. slop!

[buwheal]

If it has a pen and a canvas spamton will be drawn‼️

Never finished the neo XP piece </3

Plus also my DS case !!!

Get turned into a sticker idiot (he looks weird though its been a month or two)

[hijinxinprogress]

Billy definitely thinks about random things during fights and decides the internet needs to know immediately

[computer-nerd-girl]