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Scientist Uses Nanodots To Create 4Tb Storage Chip

arcticstoat writes "Solid state disks could soon catch up with mechanical hard drives in terms of cost and capacity, thanks to a new data-packed chip developed by a scientist at the University of North Carolina. Using a uniform array of 10nm nanodots, each of which represents a single bit, Dr. Jay Narayan created a data density of 1 terabit per square centimeter. The end result was a 4cm2 chip that holds 4Tb of data (512GB), but the university says that the nanodots could have a diameter of just 6nm, enabling an even greater data density. The university explains that the nanodots are 'made of single, defect-free crystals, creating magnetic sensors that are integrated directly into a silicon electronic chip.' Dr. Narayan says he expects the technology overtaking traditional solid state disk technology within the next five years."

2 of 207 comments (clear)

  1. Re:4Tb of data (512GB) by biryokumaru · · Score: 5, Insightful

    4 Terabits = 512 Gigabytes.

    Somewhat misleading? Yes. Inherently false? No.

    --
    When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
  2. Not a "chip", merely a "chip". by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    They have microdots at a 4Tb-per-sq-inch storage density; they don't have any controller that can read and write it.

    This has been "accomplished" numerous times with holographic storage media before. They just never made the read-writers...