IBM Research: one step closer to atomic data storage

This video illustrates the flipping of the direction of a "compass needle" consisting of a single magnetic atom. The lines represent the magnetic field lines created by the tiny magnet and the arrows demonstrate the direction of the magnetization of the magnetic atom. Eventually such a magnetic nanodevice could be used to store magnetic information, here illustrated as "1" and "0." The key property that determines the stability of the magnetism of magnetic bits is called magnetic anisotropy.

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[rsanchef]

IBM is from another planet.

Intergalactic Business Machines. Didn't you know that ?

[BurtWilson1]

Vast data storage on a tiny chip.

[jacobpaprotskiy]

fucking awsome



[DouglasMcK]

My question is why do we need to stick to binary in an atomic level of environment ?!?! Why cant there be a Ternary or Quaternary system in this concept with predictable results??

[boxa888]

@31Orcas yes and cosmic rays, and emp effects, maybe if the whole device was covered in a metal box(faraday cage) but yes the more smaller the more cosmic events can destroy computer chips, for one example look at the huge solar storms comming to the earth, they destroy power grids, so a computer chip with no protection is gonna get hit hard. burned or erased very easily. its scary,the best way to survive solar and emp attacks are with larger more current carrying components like vacuum tubes

[31Orcas]

Did I say byte? Oops. Yeah, bit makes a lot more sense : ).

[scrap1005]

@Jihadist, I knew I loved that company for some reason! Oh, and don't forget there is a processor that thing in front of you...

[scrap1005]

@31Orcas, you're close. It would be a bit per atom. So 16 atoms could make up a 16bit byte (or word), perhaps.

[ZERO3690]

good idea but not possible

[31Orcas]

OK, so you can predict atoms, but not really anything smaller? But I get the magnetic storage thing. Wow, a byte per atom would be crazy... but wouldn't that be extremely sensitive to magnetic disturbances? Like a magnet in the wrong place could whipe the entire drive? Or not? I should look it up... when I get another chance to be on the internet, haha. We lost internet conection and it'll be a long time before we get it back. I'm at my aunt's. BTW thanks for the reply : ).

[Kostly]

From what I can tell it is an instruction based on magnetism. The on position sends it in one direction and the off in another. Basically, the "atomic" storage allows you to store more data in much smaller increments. Then I think you can store more on less and access will be MUCH faster. Close to the speed of light? And quantum physics deals with sub-atomic particles, I thought. Atoms are predictable.

[joelito101]

it looks like an atomic size needle (already available) pulses energy into an electron to flip it's poles back and forth. It is already done but not at such small scale.