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Physicist Proposes a New Type of Computing

Posted by Soulskill on from the marble-based-computation dept.

SpankiMonki writes "Joshua Turner, a physicist at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, has proposed using the orbits of electrons around the nucleus of an atom as a new means to generate the binary states used in computing. Turner calls his idea orbital computing. Turner points to recent discoveries (including a new material that allows rapid switching of its electron states and new low-power terahertz laser technology) that could lead to the development of a computer with vastly improved performance over current technologies."

5 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Imagine one of these running Android! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The catch is that to generate a tight enough pulse of sufficient intensity to do this, you need an accelerator two miles long. But if you manage that, you can switch electron states 10,000 times faster than transistor states can be switched.

    Ok, so it won't be a portable device...

    1. Re:Imagine one of these running Android! by Zalbik · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ok, so it won't be a portable device...

      No, but imagine a beowulf cluster of....

      nevermind...

  2. Ray was right! by NoImNotNineVolt · · Score: 3, Funny

    Here comes the singularity!

    Disclaimer: posted in jest to rile up all the Kurzweil haters. Where's your "hit the limit of silicon" argument now, huh? :P

    --
    Chuuch. Preach. Tabernacle.
  3. The most important question ever by NapalmV · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does it run Office?

  4. Re:New push for inovations? by fisted · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm dreaming of a technology to finally teach people where and where not to use apostrophes.

    --
    CLI paste? paste.pr0.tips!