Fast Clocks for Fast Chips
In the world of high-speed computer chips, timing is everything. Without a clock, processors are useless, and the faster and smaller the chip, the harder it is to keep steady time. The latest superconducting chips-circuits that deliver astonishing electrical speed when kept at extremely cold temperatures-are the electronic equivalent of an untamed bucking bronco. In search of a faster timing device that can harness their power, Mark F. Bocko, professor of electrical engineering at the University of Rochester, has developed a clock with a built-in diagnostic chip that can measure and adjust its own timing. Already, Bocko’s team has successfully clocked a superconducting circuit running at 50 gigahertz. The clocks could eventually handle chips running at “several hundred gigahertz,” says Bocko. The team is working with an Elmsford, NY, electronics company called Hypres to construct superconducting equipment for wireless communications. -C. Conti
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Deep learning pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has quit Google
Hinton will be speaking at EmTech Digital on Wednesday.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.