In a First, Scientists Have Connected a Superconductor To a Semiconductor (scitechdaily.com) 18
Long-time Slashdot reader schwit1 shares new from SciTechDaily:
For the first time, University of Basel researchers have equipped an ultrathin semiconductor with superconducting contacts. These extremely thin materials with novel electronic and optical properties could pave the way for previously unimagined applications. Combined with superconductors, they are expected to give rise to new quantum phenomena and find use in quantum technology....
With a view to future applications in electronics and quantum technology, researchers are focusing on the development of new components that consist of a single layer (monolayer) of a semiconducting material. Some naturally occurring materials with semiconducting properties feature monolayers of this kind, stacked to form a three-dimensional crystal. In the laboratory, researchers can separate these layers — which are no thicker than a single molecule — and use them to build electronic components. These ultrathin semiconductors promise to deliver unique characteristics that are otherwise very difficult to control, such as the use of electric fields to influence the magnetic moments of the electrons. In addition, complex quantum mechanical phenomena take place in these semiconducting monolayers that may have applications in quantum technology...
A team of physicists, led by Dr. Andreas Baumgartner in the research group of Professor Christian Schönenberger at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Department of Physics of the University of Basel, has now fitted a monolayer of the semiconductor molybdenum disulfide with superconducting contacts for the first time...
"In a superconductor, the electrons arrange themselves into pairs, like partners in a dance — with weird and wonderful consequences, such as the flow of the electrical current without a resistance," explains Baumgartner, the project manager of the study. "In the semiconductor molybdenum disulfide, on the other hand, the electrons perform a completely different dance, a strange solo routine that also incorporates their magnetic moments. Now we would like to find out which new and exotic dances the electrons agree upon if we combine these materials."
Mehdi Ramezani, lead author of the study, says that "In principle, the vertical contacts we've developed for the semiconductor layers can be applied to a large number of semiconductors."
With a view to future applications in electronics and quantum technology, researchers are focusing on the development of new components that consist of a single layer (monolayer) of a semiconducting material. Some naturally occurring materials with semiconducting properties feature monolayers of this kind, stacked to form a three-dimensional crystal. In the laboratory, researchers can separate these layers — which are no thicker than a single molecule — and use them to build electronic components. These ultrathin semiconductors promise to deliver unique characteristics that are otherwise very difficult to control, such as the use of electric fields to influence the magnetic moments of the electrons. In addition, complex quantum mechanical phenomena take place in these semiconducting monolayers that may have applications in quantum technology...
A team of physicists, led by Dr. Andreas Baumgartner in the research group of Professor Christian Schönenberger at the Swiss Nanoscience Institute and the Department of Physics of the University of Basel, has now fitted a monolayer of the semiconductor molybdenum disulfide with superconducting contacts for the first time...
"In a superconductor, the electrons arrange themselves into pairs, like partners in a dance — with weird and wonderful consequences, such as the flow of the electrical current without a resistance," explains Baumgartner, the project manager of the study. "In the semiconductor molybdenum disulfide, on the other hand, the electrons perform a completely different dance, a strange solo routine that also incorporates their magnetic moments. Now we would like to find out which new and exotic dances the electrons agree upon if we combine these materials."
Mehdi Ramezani, lead author of the study, says that "In principle, the vertical contacts we've developed for the semiconductor layers can be applied to a large number of semiconductors."
So which orchestra (Score:1)
were they conducting
Re: (Score:1)
The maestro were conjoined twins: one was sorta lazy and the other did all the work fantastically.
They're watching electrons (Score:1)
They're watching electrons do exotic dances and I'm just burning, doing the Neutron Dance.
Considering what "exotic dancers" actually do, I can't say I blame them.
Show us the electron l3wdz already!
Re: They're watching electrons (Score:1)
Considering what "exotic dancers" actually do...
Let me guess: lots of coke??
Re: (Score:2)
They shake their naked singularities. Duh.
Hm (Score:1)
They should have done it on a semi-trailer.
Okay, but ... (Score:2)
Connected a Superconductor To a Semiconductor
Will that make it a super semiconductor or a semi superconductor? 'Cause it seems like they'd be ... different.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
just moves electrons (or holes) away from the device more quickly.
Actually, electrons don't propagate faster through superconductors.
That is not what makes a superconductor super.
What makes this interesting is that the lack of resistance in superconductors means less heat being generated.
Heat dissipation is the #1 problem holding back more powerful processors.
CMOS logic produces frequency-dependent switching heat which this will not eliminate, but superconducting interconnects can still make a big difference.
Re: (Score:2)
Superconducters could be even more interesting. Can the manipulate the magnetic field generated by the super conductor, how accurately can they measure it and thus how much data can be stored in that permanent electro magnetic field, depending upon how accurately the state of the super conductor can be altered. Quite a lot of data could be stored in the magnetic field of a quite small super conductor. Oscillations, directional fields, focal points in the field. It would store the field, running, until it is
yeah but (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
What do you mean? African or European frog?
So... (Score:1)
... astroglide for physicists? Smooth move, slick chick!
Apologies: actual comment (Score:5, Interesting)
So is it called (Score:2)
a semisuperconductor or a supersemiconductor?
This is a first? (Score:2)