The Quantum Dot

The microchip is the technological miracle of the twentieth-century, packing millions of bits of information on a surface no larger than a human thumbnail. This revolution in microelectronics has dramatically changed the way we live. While microchips are found in everything from computers, fax machines, lasers, and children's toys, the vast majority of us still have no idea how they really work. In The Quantum Dot, physicist Richard Turton reveals the science behind the...
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The microchip is the technological miracle of the twentieth-century, packing millions of bits of information on a surface no larger than a human thumbnail. This revolution in microelectronics has dramatically changed the way we live. While microchips are found in everything from computers, fax machines, lasers, and children's toys, the vast majority of us still have no idea how they really work.
In The Quantum Dot, physicist Richard Turton reveals the science behind the microelectronic revolution and provides us with a tantalizing peek at the future of this rapidly evolving field. Turton's clear explanations and engaging style make this a book that will appeal to the armchair scientist while sacrificing nothing of the complexity that the more sophisticated reader will demand. Here we learn how researchers have packed more and more bits into the silicon chip and look at the latest innovations in the industry today, from the newest chip materials (used in the recently released Cray 3 supercomputer) to the exotic world of high-temperature superconductors. Readers are also treated to a walk on the wild side: we venture into the strange realm where quantum theory prevails and where physical events contradict our intuitive perceptions and learn how researchers are struggling to create "designer atoms" and the incredibly small and fast quantum dot.
The range of future possibilities is immense, and thanks to The Quantum Dot, we can follow the progress of modern technology and glimpse how new the world might look.