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Magnetic Computing Takes a Step Forward
MaceyHW writes "PhysOrg.com reports a big step forward in the development of magnetic microchips. Since their initial creation of a magnetic logic gate in 2002, an international team of researchers from Durham University, Imperial College, London and the University of Sheffield 'team has created a number of further "logic gates" and created interconnecting structures using magnetic "nanowires," which can now reproduce the logic functions of a conventional computer.'"
... is the picture !
I have, erm, sources connected to this story.
Basically, don't expect miracles. The signals can travel incredibly fast through these devices (can't remember exact figures) but there are problems. The signals are driven by an external magnetic field. Single magnetic pulse can drive high speed data transmission, but not normally operation of the circuit. Continuous operation would likely be in the 10s of kHZ to 1s of MHz range.
The main uses are in low power, low demand devices. Or in systems which need to be resistant to EM radiation (certain military interest there).
Similarities to core memory? Basically that's MRAM. And chips of MRAM up to about several hundred kb can now be mass produced.
But as for "they have made a computer" - we're not talking Pentiums. We're talking about having demonstrated the functions which compose such chips - NOT, AND, OR and signal combination and splitting. Nothing more.