Physical problems and limits in computer logic

Keyes, Robert W.

doi:10.1109/mspec.1969.5213809

Cited by 51 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…For any technology to be useful for large-scale digital computing, the hardware must satisfy several criteria related to materials, devices, and systems [51,52,[70][71][72]. These criteria include cheap raw materials, insensitivity to device variations and temperature fluctuations, and high gain.…”

Section: Proposed Numerical Studies 41 Silicon Technology In the Cont...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For a semiconductor to be useful for devices, we must have E g kT , and this must be true up to temperatures obtained during operation. In the case of densely integrated silicon transistors clocked at 3 GHz, this temperature can be close to 400 K. The operating temperature range of silicon microelectronics is the same as the temperature range of liquid water, although cryogenic operation is also possible [70].…”

Section: The Silicon Band Gapmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does Cosmological Evolution Select for Technology?

Shainline

2019

Preprint

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If the parameters defining the physics of our universe departed from their present values, the observed rich structure and complexity would not be supported. This article considers whether similar fine-tuning of parameters applies to technology. The anthropic principle is one means of explaining the observed values of the parameters. This principle constrains physical theories to allow for our existence, yet the principle does not apply to the existence of technology. Cosmological natural selection has been proposed as an alternative to anthropic reasoning. Within this framework, fine-tuning results from selection of universes capable of prolific reproduction. It was originally proposed that reproduction occurs through singularities resulting from supernovae, and subsequently argued that life may facilitate the production of the singularities that become offspring universes. Here I argue technology is necessary for production of singularities by living beings, and ask whether the physics of our universe has been selected to simultaneously enable stars, intelligent life, and technology capable of creating progeny. Specific technologies appear implausibly equipped to perform tasks necessary for production of singularities, potentially indicating finetuning through cosmological natural selection. These technologies include silicon electronics, superconductors, and the cryogenic infrastructure enabled by the thermodynamic properties of liquid helium. Numerical studies are proposed to determine regions of physical parameter space in which the constraints of stars, life, and technology are simultaneously satisfied. If this overlapping parameter range is small, we should be surprised that physics allows technology to exist alongside us. The tests do not call for new astrophysical or cosmological observations. Only computer simulations of well-understood condensed matter systems are required.

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Section: Proposed Numerical Studies 41 Silicon Technology In the Cont...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Silicon Band Gapmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Cosmological Evolution Select for Technology?

Shainline

2019

Preprint

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“…That view was most vigorously put forward by Robert Keyes, a physicist and close friend of Landauer's (he wrote one of Landauer's National Academies obituaries and is mentioned as a confidante in another). In "Physical Problems and Limits in Computer Logic" and "Physical Limits in Digital Electronics", Keyes (1969 and1975) warned that power dissipation, in particular, was a rapidly approaching problem, and pointed to a variety of exotic technologies that might provide at least temporary relief.…”

Section: A Semiconductor Industry No Morementioning

confidence: 99%

The Diverse Ecology of Electronic Materials

Mody¹

2017

cahierscfv

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Silicon has been the dominant material in microelectronics for a half century. Other materials, however, have subsidiary roles in microelectronics manufacturing. A few materials have even been promoted as replacements for silicon. Yet because of silicon's dominance, none of these alternatives has gone from bench to brand; nor could any of them progress from brand to bench. For these reasons, historians have paid little attention to silicon and almost none to other microelectronics materials. I show, however, that we can better understand how the organization of the semiconductor (silicon) industry has changed over time by examining alternative microelectronic materials. I do so by presenting two case studies: one of a superconducting computing program at IBM, the most likely candidate to overthrow silicon in the '70s; the other of carbon fullerenes, the most likely candidates to overthrow silicon today.

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Design Principles for Achieving High-Performance Submicron Digital Technologies

Fredkin¹,

Toffoli²

2002

Collision-Based Computing

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Physical problems and limits in computer logic

Cited by 51 publications

References 20 publications

Does Cosmological Evolution Select for Technology?

Does Cosmological Evolution Select for Technology?

The Diverse Ecology of Electronic Materials

Design Principles for Achieving High-Performance Submicron Digital Technologies

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