<p>According to Moore’s Law, computer processing power doubles every two years. Although it’s not a law of physics, engineers deem it a professional responsibility, but they’re starting to reach the limits of conventional materials: Silicon channels just can’t carry enough electrical current. To keep it flowing, IBM announced in July it has developed a new silicon germanium alloy and — even more significant, says IBM engineer Mukesh Khare — integrated a short-wavelength laser used to etch the circuits. Known as extreme ultraviolet lithography, it’s 10 times finer than current techniques, channeling more than 20 billion switches into a chip about the size of a fingernail.</p><div class="vert-display-toggle collapsible relative flex flex-col items-center "><div class="vert-unit mt-4 mb-3 top-20"><div ad-type="mobile-desktop" class="ad-wrapper vert min-h-boombox flex items-start justify-center" data-ad-mapping="inline" data-ad-slot="Discover/inline-ad" id="div-inline-ad-0"></div></div><span aria-label="Advertisement" class="text-ad mt-1 text-[11px] uppercase">Advertisement</span></div><p><em>[This article originally appeared in print as "Micro Microchips."]</em></p>

microchip.jpg

January/February 2016

The January/February  2016 issue of Discover Magazine

100 Top Stories of 2015

20 billion switches on a fingernail-size wafer.

Technology

Microchips Continue to Shrink

Article

News

Jonathon Keats

Science

According to Moore’s Law, computer processing power doubles every two years. Although it’s not a law of physics, engineers deem it a professional responsibility, but they’re starting to reach the limits of conventional materials: Silicon channels just can’t carry enough electrical current. To keep it flowing, IBM announced in July it has developed a new silicon germanium alloy and — even more significant, says IBM engineer Mukesh Khare — integrated a short-wavelength laser used to etch the circuits. Known as extreme ultraviolet lithography, it’s 10 times finer than current techniques, channeling more than 20 billion switches into a chip about the size of a fingernail. [This article originally appeared in print as "Micro Microchips."]

Discover Magazine’s award-winning journalism inspires and informs, delivering thought-provoking content that sparks meaningful conversations. With a focus on groundbreaking developments in science, technology, and the world around us, Discover highlights the impact of these innovations on our daily lives.

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