Molecular computers

Recently, Hewlett-Packard Company today announced the first success in the manufacture of components that can be built powerful molecular computers. Scientists from HP and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have announced that they were able to get rotaxane molecules move from one state to another - in essence, this means the creation of a molecular memory element.

The next step should be making logical keys that can serve as AND, OR and NOT. All such computer may consist of layers of conductors laid in one direction, a layer of rotaxane molecules and a layer of conductors directed in the opposite direction. The configuration of components consisting of the required number of memory cells and logic key is created electronically. Scientists estimate that HP, like a computer would be 100 billion times more economical than today's microprocessors, taking up many times less space.

The very idea of ​​these logic elements is not revolutionary: silicon chips contain millions of such well. But the advantages in power consumption and size are able to make computers ubiquitous. Molecular computer the size of a grain of sand can contain billions of molecules. And if you learn how to make computers do not three-layer and three-dimensional, having overcome the limitations of lithography process, a flat, used to manufacture microprocessors today, the benefits will become even greater.

In addition, molecular techniques promise the emergence of micromachines that can move and make the effort. And to create such devices can be used even traditional techniques of etching. Someday, these micromachines are themselves engaged in assembling the components of the atomic or molecular size.


The first experiments with molecular devices do not guarantee the appearance of these computers, but this is the path which is ordained by the entire history of previous achievements. Mass production of the current molecular computer could start anywhere between 2005 and 2015.