Hot Stuff

Hot Stuff

A cool study showing a nanoscale view of quantum mechanics that may stop our electronic gadgets from overheating and failing. Thanks, Rich Pollett !

Originally shared by Rich Pollett

Staying cool in the nanoelectric universe by getting hot

Nanoconductors squeeze an electrical current into a narrow channel, increasing the amount of heat circulating through a microchip’s nanotransistor. 

Research hints that nanodevices in microcircuits can protect themselves from heat generation; could boost computing power without large-scale changes to electronics. A University at Buffalo study hints that, to make laptops and other portable electronic devices more robust, more heat might be the answer. Here, nanoconductors squeeze an electrical current into a narrow channel, increasing the amount of heat circulating through a microchip’s nanotransistor. 

Nanowire:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanowire

Nanoelectronics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanoelectronics

The paper, “Formation of a protected sub-band for conduction in quantum point contacts under extreme biasing,” was published Jan. 19 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2013.297.html

University at Buffalo :

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/01/020.html

Image Credit: Jon Bird and Jong Han.

High Res Image: http://www.buffalo.edu/content/dam/www/news/photos/2014/01/Bird-Han-Release.jpg

.