Better computing with magnets - The simple bar magnet, shrunk down to the nanoscale, could be a powerful logic device
Wolfgang Porod, Michael Thaddeus Niemier · IEEE Spectrum · 2015
When it comes to computing, we can very easily divide the technologies we use into two distinct categories: speedy electronics and stable magnetics. Electrons, which move fast and interact strongly with one another, are ideal for performing computation. Magnets, by contrast, aren't known for their speed, but they're hard to perturb, making them the perfect medium for data storage. But this division may soon disappear. Thanks to modern fabrication technology, we can now create nanometer-scale magnetic devices that can perform computations. These devices are not as speedy as state-of-the-art transistors, but they require far less energy to switch.