Atomic Limits of Magnetic Memory

San Jose, CA 13 January 2012 - IBM scientists created the world’s smallest magnetic memory bit using only 12 atoms. This is the first-ever demonstration of engineered atomic-scale structures storing information magnetically at low temperatures. It happened after 30 years of nanotechnology research.

The ability to manipulate matter by its most basic components – atom by atom – could lead to the understanding necessary to build smaller, faster and more energy-efficient devices. Harnessing magnetic bits at the atomic scale to hold information or perform useful computing operations requires precise control of the interactions between the bits.

Future applications of nanostructures built one atom at a time, and that apply an unconventional form of magnetism called antiferromagnetism, could allow people and businesses to store 100 times more information in the same space. This experimental atomic-scale magnet memory is at least 100 times denser than today’s hard disk drives and solid state memory chips.

Video of How Magnetic Memory Works (An excellent demo for 5th - 12th grade science classes.)

What temperature did they use? I read someone stating 1K, is that correct? What happens when the temperature is increased?