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"Magnetic Tornadoes" Could Offer New Data Storage Tech

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the where-your-data-stops-no-one-knows dept.

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."

7 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. LHC by tritonman · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  2. Re:"Quaternary bits"? by just_another_sean · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

    --
    Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
  3. I read this as "magnetic tomatoes" by kcbanner · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was really confused for about 5 minutes.

    --
    Obligatory blog plug: http://www.caseybanner.ca/
  4. Tornadoes, of course by philspear · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  5. Disaster Recovery? by sac13 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  6. Re:There are 1 types of people who understand quin by Penguinshit · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    --

    I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...

  7. I hate to do this, really... by goodmanj · · Score: 3, Funny

    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...