"Magnetic Tornadoes" Could Offer New Data Storage Tech

coondoggie writes to tell us about the latest technique researchers are investigating as a possible means to store data, magnetic tornadoes. "Conventional computer memories store data in "bits" that consist of two magnetic elements that record data in binary form. When these elements are magnetized in the same direction, the computer reads the bit as a '0'; when magnetized in opposite directions, the bit represents a '1,' researchers stated. According to scientists, a vortex forms spontaneously — one vortex per disk — in a small magnetic disk when the disk's diameter falls below a certain limit. Although the vortex does not whirl about like a meteorological tornado, the atoms in the material do orient themselves so that their magnetic states, or 'moments,' point either clockwise or counterclockwise around the disk's surface. At the center of the disk, the density of this rotation causes the polarity of the vortex core to point either up out of the disk or down like a tornado's funnel, researchers stated. Because the vortices that form on the disks contain two independently controllable and accessible magnetic parameters, they could form the basis for quaternary bits that would contain data written as a 0, 1, 2, or 3."

Comments

LHC

[tritonman]

How do we know these magnetic tornadoes won't grow and destroy our trailer parks?????

Re:LHC

[MyLongNickName]

We don't. However, we do advertise this as a potential side-effect to increase our funding.

And Then

[gearloos]

So I guess now we can call Malware writers "Storm Chasers".

Re:"Quaternary bits"?

[just_another_sean]

Is a "quaternary bit" a "quaternary binary digit"? Doesn't make sense. I think you're after a "quaternary digit", or "quit".

I like the sound of 'quigit'.

Quigit eh? Quyte nice. You'll get no quyble from me.

I read this as "magnetic tomatoes"

[kcbanner]

I was really confused for about 5 minutes.

Tornadoes, of course

[philspear]

Why didn't I think of that? Tornadoes, in retrospect, seem like the PERFECT place to put my ordered data.

Re:Tornadoes, of course

[Anonymous Coward]

Both storage and retrieval of data is simple. Retrieving data in the same order in which it was stored, maybe not so much.

Disaster Recovery?

[sac13]

This brings a whole new meaning to the term...

Re:"Quaternary bits"?

[JustOK]

To help take the byte out of boring classes?

Re:"Quaternary bits"?

[Kaenneth]

I call a base 4 digit a Quatloo.

Great for storing extended bools, such as {false, true, maybe, File Not Found}

Re:There are 1 types of people who understand quin

[Penguinshit]

Western Digital has been harnessing the power of data black holes for years...

I hate to do this, really...

[goodmanj]

Aunt E&M! Aunt E&M! There's no place like Ohm!

So I'm guessing the strength of these magnetic gales would be measured in Henries? ... I could go on...

Stuff and nonsense

[Xenographic]

And what if we scare robots into killing all the humans? Doesn't anyone remember how scared Bender was when he saw a 2 amidst all those 0s and 1s in that nightmare?