Ballistic transistor

Ballistic deflection transistors are electronic devices being developed for high-speed integrated circuits. Instead of switching the flow of several electrons using gates, as it is done in field-effect transistors, they try to manipulate the course of single electrons using electromagnetic forces. These free flowing electrons are forced around a wedge-shaped obstacle in one direction or another, corresponding to a logical '1' or '0'.

The advantages are a smaller size, reduced noise, lower power requirements and higher speeds (up to the terahertz region). Still conceptual at the moment, a research prototype has been created. This is a technique currently being investigated by the University of Rochester.

External links

Radical 'Ballistic Computing' Chip Bounces Electrons Around Like Billiards