Quantum well' transistor promises lean computing

A transistor that uses one-tenth of the energy of existing components could lead to more powerful, less power-hungry computers within the next decade. Researchers at US microchip company Intel and UK research firm Qinetiq developed the transistor using a novel semiconducting material - indium antimonide. Indium antimonide allows electrons to speed through faster than conventional silicon-based transistors due to its highly active and greater number of "charge-carriers". But these charge-carriers also make these transistors more difficult to control than silicon ones, except at extremely low temperatures - around 77 Kelvin (-196°C). To overcome this temperature limitation, the researchers sandwiched pure indium antimonide between layers of the same material mixed with aluminium. The isolated pure material acts as a "quantum well", confining electrons which travel at high speed but which can also be controlled at very low voltage. Tim Phillips, business manager in Qinetiq's Fast Transistors group, says, "Right now, you could make a processor that would be as fast as silicon but use one-tenth of the power." Philips says the new transistors could help semiconductor firms overcome twin challenges: "There is an immediate problem with power and, in the longer term, problems with speed as well." The next step is to design the transistors to be integrated with current silicon manufacturing processes. Only then would the technology be a viable alternative to silicon. "The thing that you're always up against is the fact that silicon has had billions of dollars of investment," Phillips says. "Ultimately, they need to be as similar as possible to the silicon manufacturing process." [New Scientist]