Machines Like Us

A team of scientists at IBM's Zurich Research Laboratory have announced a major advancement in computer-based simulations that will help drive innovation in future chip design. Hailed as the first major change to the transistor since the emergence of silicon semiconductors, the new technology will find its way into IBM products by 2008.

Using computer-based modeling together with the capabilities offered by IBM's Blue Gene supercomputer, the researchers were for the first time able to see a clear picture of how a promising new material—hafnium dioxide—improves the efficiency of silicon transistors. The work shows how supercomputer simulations are advancing technologies to a new level.

"Advances in algorithms and their optimal mapping on extremely large and scalable computer hardware such as Blue Gene are empowering us to do accurate and realistic atomic simulations of complex materials," explains Alessandro Curioni, supercomputing expert from IBM's Zurich lab and emphasizes: "So indeed, today we are able to use supercomputers to investigate materials that will be eventually used in the next generation of supercomputers."

From PhysOrg