[Link] Physcists say they can encode magnetic data using heat pulses
post by MatthewBaker · 2012-02-08T08:45:11.220Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 10 commentsContents
10 comments
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-physicists-magnetic-breakthrough.html
Anyone have a strong opinion on this one? thanks :)
10 comments
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comment by NancyLebovitz · 2012-02-08T18:12:16.525Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Why is this important? More efficiency by scavenging waste heat?
Replies from: Normal_Anomaly↑ comment by Normal_Anomaly · 2012-02-09T22:19:44.315Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I know approximately nothing about this, but the article claims that the physicists claim that it will allow for faster transfer of information to hard drives. I don't know what parts of the computer-using experience that would speed up though.
Replies from: Nonecomment by Thomas · 2012-02-08T08:59:47.725Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
From your link:
Until now it has been believed that in order to record one bit of information – by inverting the poles of a magnet – there was a need to apply an external magnetic field. The stronger the applied field, the faster the recording of a magnetic bit of information.
Technically that is not true. A rotation of a magnet applying some nonmagnetic force was always known as possible and an everyday matter. Still, this is a very good news.
Replies from: shminux↑ comment by Shmi (shminux) · 2012-02-08T20:27:12.056Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
A rotation of a magnet applying some nonmagnetic force was always known
Can you give an example?
Replies from: Thomas↑ comment by Thomas · 2012-02-08T20:54:25.842Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
A rotating magnet inside an electric generator, for example. It is not a magnetic force which changes the direction of the magnet many times every second.
Replies from: shminux↑ comment by Shmi (shminux) · 2012-02-09T15:47:15.575Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
That's silly, you are not changing its magnetization, only position. And you are certainly not flipping a single domain inside a magnet in this way.
Replies from: Thomas, Thomas↑ comment by Thomas · 2012-02-09T21:43:05.312Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Or, if you prefer this one - Mechanism of surface magnetization by friction of ferromagnetic materials
Replies from: shminux↑ comment by Shmi (shminux) · 2012-02-10T03:28:59.962Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
That one is indeed interesting, as the magnetic domains are flipped/transferred, albeit not in a controlled way.