A group of scientists from Texas A&M University have announced the discovery of a new circuit element called a meminductor. This new element could lead to the development of advanced electronics and improve the functionality of the circuits.
The evolution of electrical circuits
Electrical circuits are essential elements in our daily lives and are found everywhere around us. From the basic switches that turn lights on to the more complex circuitry found in cars and computers, electrical circuitry has become ubiquitous in our society.
Electrical circuits consist of three main elements: resistors, capacitors, and inductors. Each of these elements has a specific function, such as storing energy or restricting the flow of electricity.
However, science and technology are constantly evolving and this has led to the discovery of new circuit elements in recent years. In 2008 and 2019, two new circuit elements called “memristor” and “memcapacitor«. These elements are so named because their current and voltage properties depend on previous values ​​of current or voltage in time, like a memory.
Discovery of the meminducer
The earlier discoveries led scientists, including researcher H. Rusty Harris, to believe that there may be more circuit elements to discover. The research team experimented with a two-terminal passive system to prove the existence of a new circuit element. This system included an electromagnet and two permanent magnets, and focused on the density and strength of a magnetic field flux traveling through an inductor.
The team confirmed the existence of a “mem” state (memory-like in nature) within the inducer. This development was done by the same definition as the memristor and memcapacitor.
Potential application of the meminductor
The discovery of the meminductor could have significant implications for electronics and electrical engineering. The fact that this new circuit element has a memory nature similar to that of the memristor and memcapacitor means that it could be used in advanced memory circuits. It could also improve the circuitry’s ability to control the flow of electricity and store energy.
It could also have implications for quantum physics and quantum computing, but it’s still too early to say for sure.
Link: nature.com
