The Missing Memristor?

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05/09/2008

May. 09, 2008

The Missing Memristor?

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Introductory classes in electronics are big on circuit diagrams involving different combinations of resistors, capacitors and inductors. Now, researchers say that they have discovered a fourth fundamental passive circuit element, one that complements those well-known three and fills in a gap in the basic equations that describe the relationships between voltage, current, and magnetic flux. The possibility of such a circuit element, known as the ‘memristor,’ was first described in 1971, but until now no one has found a device with the properties of that missing element. A group of scientists at HP Labs found that in nanoscale materials, however, the 'memristance' property becomes easier to see.

The find could lead to lower power, instant-on computers, as well as novel types of circuitry. We'll talk with one of the discoverers of the modern memristor about the find and its potential applications.

Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer

Guests

Stanley Williams
HP Senior Fellow

Director of the Information
and Quantum Systems Lab

Hewlett-Packard Development Company

Palo Alto, California

May. 09, 2008