Experimental Transistor Breaks 600 Gigahertz

neutron_p writes "The goal of a terahertz transistor for high-speed computing and communications applications could now be within reach. A new type of transistor structure, invented by scientists at the University of Illinois, has broken the 600 gigahertz speed barrier. A new type of transistor - built from indium phosphide and indium gallium arsenide - is designed with a compositionally graded collector, base and emitter to reduce transit time and improve current density. With their pseudomorphic heterojunction bipolar transistor, the researchers have demonstrated a speed of 604 gigahertz - the fastest transistor operation to date."

Comments

Re:Not being an EE geek...let me ask a question

[RayDude]

I suspect the power requirements for this bi-polar transistor would make it impossible to build something on the scale of a P4.

Bipolar eats power.

I think these transistors, if found to be manufacturable, will probably be used in communications not digital logic.

Raydude