T-Waves Speed Up Computer Memory

MIPT (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) Scientists have partnered with colleagues from the Netherlands as well as Germany and together they have discovered a method that improved computer performance by ten fold. The paper proposal of their new found method was published in Nature Photonics. They proposed that utilizing T-waves aka terahertz radiation as a method to readjust a computer's memory cells. The result by doing so, is a computer that is over one thousand times faster than a computer plainly using a magnetic field generated switching. These scientist are proclaiming a brand new way of magnetization control. Magnetization relies on small electromagnetic pulses upon a terahertz frequency. This is a vital step toward implementing terahertz electronic technology. Thus far this study is the first of its kind to utilize this type of method inducing the oscillations of magnetic subsystems.

Hardware designers are forced to achieve continually higher computational speeds due to the complicated computations and rapidly growing amounts of data that has to be manipulated. Presently, professionals have come to believe that our classical computation method is reaching a limit, beyond which that can not foresee a further growth in data processing speed feasible. This fact has scientists around the globe motivated to investigate all possible avenues to reinvent computer technologies. The weakest link in the modern computer system is the non evolution in computer memory. It takes a considerable amount of time to reset every operation within a magnetic memory cell - reducing this cycle duration is a extremely difficult task.

Scientists Sebastian Baierl, Anatoly Zvedin, and Alexey Kimel have proposed that in place of external magnetic fields for computing memory switching to use electromagnetic pulses with terahertz frequencies. Terahertz radiation has already been utilized in body scanners located within the airports. T-waves have the ability to expose concealed explosives and/or weapons strapped to the human body without damaging any bodily organs. An experiment preformed utilizing thulium orthoferrite revealed that T-waves successfully work in computing memory switching. The spinning of atoms into micro-crystals as well as the ordered alignment of magnetic moments create a weak ferromagnet which generates a magnetic field. A magnetic field is required to trigger a reorientation of spins.

Additionally, the experiment revealed that it possible for the T-waves to directly control magnetization. The T-waves excite electronic transitions in the ions of thulium while altering then thulium and iron ion's magnetic properties. The T-waves outcome was ten times more effective than that of just an external magnetic field. In short, the scientists have discovered a quick and efficient solution to creating ultrafast memory through a re magnetization method.

These scientists also predict that T-wave switching will work well with other materials. This discovery opens up a whole new avenue in the attempts to better control magnetization within magnetic materials. The studies provide solid evidence for this research.