4 ms·

This microprocessor composed of some 20k Josephson junctions appears to be pure computational logic. In practice it will need to interface to external memory i

by tromp 6y ago

This microprocessor composed of some 20k Josephson junctions appears to be pure computational logic. In practice it will need to interface to external memory in order to perform (more) useful work. Would there be any problems fashioning memory cells out of Josephson junctions, so that the power savings can carry over to the system as a whole?

faeyanpiraat 6y ago
If you compare cpu power usage with ram power usage, you'll see ram is already quite efficient, so even if traditional ram connected to the said microprocessor cannot be brought under the magic of this method, it might work. (Haven't read the article, or have any expertise in this field, so I might be wrong)
- qayxc 6y ago
  Cryogenic memory can be orders of magnitude more efficient than traditional RAM, even taking the cooling into account.
qayxc 6y ago
This is an area that's still in its early stage, but yes, it would seem so. Modules that are a few kilobytes in size have already been tested. Even taking cryogenic operation into account, memory of this type consumes 10-100x less power than CMOS technology at roughly the same clock speed [1] This is a very active field of research and there's a plethora of different approaches. My guess is that 20 years from now there could be three types of computing: • cryogenic quantum-computing for specialised tasks • cryogenic ultra-high-performance computing • high temperature computing (traditional CMOS-based) with the first two not being available to consumers or small companies. Maybe it's going to be like in the 1970s and early 1980s when mainframes ruled supreme and you would rent these machines or compute time thereon. People are accustomed to "the cloud" already, so it's not really a regression going back to centralised computing for a bit. [1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320891331_Experimental_Demonstration_of_a_Josephson_Magnetic_Memory_Cell_with_a_Programmable_p-Junction https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320891331_Experimen...

by tromp 6y ago

faeyanpiraat 6y ago

If you compare cpu power usage with ram power usage, you'll see ram is already quite efficient, so even if traditional ram connected to the said microprocessor cannot be brought under the magic of this method, it might work. (Haven't read the article, or have any expertise in this field, so I might be wrong)

qayxc 6y ago
Cryogenic memory can be orders of magnitude more efficient than traditional RAM, even taking the cooling into account.

qayxc 6y ago

This is an area that's still in its early stage, but yes, it would seem so. Modules that are a few kilobytes in size have already been tested. Even taking cryogenic operation into account, memory of this type consumes 10-100x less power than CMOS technology at roughly the same clock speed [1] This is a very active field of research and there's a plethora of different approaches. My guess is that 20 years from now there could be three types of computing: • cryogenic quantum-computing for specialised tasks • cryogenic ultra-high-performance computing • high temperature computing (traditional CMOS-based) with the first two not being available to consumers or small companies. Maybe it's going to be like in the 1970s and early 1980s when mainframes ruled supreme and you would rent these machines or compute time thereon. People are accustomed to "the cloud" already, so it's not really a regression going back to centralised computing for a bit. [1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320891331_Experimental_Demonstration_of_a_Josephson_Magnetic_Memory_Cell_with_a_Programmable_p-Junction https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320891331_Experimen...