Silicon-germanium chips

Computer chip technology usually only excites electrical engineers and geeks, but this is one development that could soon be speeding up some of the everyday products you rely on most for business. On 20 June, researchers from IBM and the Georgia Institute of Technology demonstrated the first silicon-based chip capable of operating at frequencies above 500 GHz – that’s an amazing 250 times faster than today’s mobile phones. The demo was conducted at 451 degrees below zero Farenheit but the boffins believe a chip operating at 1,000 GHz or more is feasible at room temperature.

The speed of the technology has huge potential for applications in defence electronics, space exploration, and remote sensing. Furthermore, because silicon is both cheap and reliable, the new super-fast chips could revolutionise business computer systems, PCs, mobile phones and even car safety.

‘In a nutshell, faster chips open up new applications and reduce costs for existing products,’ confirms Professor David Ahlgren of IBM.

‘This hi-tech work redefines the upper bounds of what is possible using silicon-germanium nanotechnology techniques,’ enthuses Professor John D. Cressler, part of the team pushing boundaries at the Georgia Institute.