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Researchers Explore Quantum Dot Based NVRAM
I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property brings us an article describing the possibility of a new type of non-volatile storage based on quantum dot technology. So far, researchers in Germany have achieved 10ns access times and 0.7Hz refresh rates. Their calculations predict that the access time could be maintained for up to a million years. We have discussed other technologies based on quantum dots, such as solar panels and information teleportation. From the Ars Technica article:
"Quantum dots can do this because there is more design freedom in setting them up. Normal flash memory relies on the huge potential barrier created by a silicon oxide layer. However, to get electrons across that barrier when writing data to a flash cell requires a lot of energy, energy that destroys the silicon oxide layer. Quantum dots, in contrast, have tunable properties, so the barrier can be kept low."
As could have easily be seen by the "refresh rate". Non-volatile memory cannot have a refresh rate.
Memory refresh means to read all cells and write them again with btheir value. This is done to neutralize signal decay. All memory that need refresh looses its stored contents over time, and hence is volatile.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
The resarch and funding IS to figure out and then solve (if possible) the problems still associated with QDs ... duh. It's been exactly the same with every other technology (and/or other potentially interesting line of research) in the entire history of humanity, why should this be different? Do you rather expect all the problems to be solved instantly by researchers before they ever get funding? If the problems were already solved, no research would be necessary ... funding isn't a prize you get after you've solved a problem, it is a necessary requirement of setting about solving a problem.