Ben Gurion University (Institute of Applied Biosciences)

Ben Gurion University (Institute of Applied Biosciences)
Type Disciplines
Private University Chemistry Nanofluidics Engineering Nanomedicine Nanomaterials Quantum Dots Modeling
Address Postal Code
P.O. Box 653 84105
City State / Province
E-mail Country
Web Phone
link 972-8-646-1111

The role of the Institute for Applied Biosciences is to serve as Ben-Gurion University's Center for biotechnology, which has recognized importance of nanoscale biosensors and nanoelectronics for medicine, environmental quality, and other areas. The school takes a broad multi-disciplinary approach to basic and applied research.

Several basic exact sciences like organic chemistry, physics, optics/optoelectronics, robotics, biology and bioinformatics are required to marry their own capabilities for establishing a powerful group in this field. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, this field must integrate in a coherent manner scientists from various horizons in order to promote scientific activities directly related to these biosensors.

Ben-Gurion University scientist solves long-standing nanoelectronics puzzles

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's theoretical physicist, Professor Yigal Meir has solved one of nanoelectronic's most longstanding puzzles, which has baffled physicists seeking to make smaller, faster computer devices for more than a decade.

In a paper published in Nature Magazine, the professor explains the 0.7 anomaly, a feature in the conductance of quantum point contacts that has so far eluded explanation for almost 20 years.

In the Nature paper published with his Ben-Gurion University postdoc, Dr. Tomaz Rejec, Meir explains, via extensive numerical calculations, that the existence of a magnetic impurity at the quantum point of contact is possible because a lower density of the electrons near the quantum point attracts the other electrons toward the point. The wavy nature of such electrons then causes the quantum point to form ripples, trapping an electron and causing the 0.7 anomaly.

This is both good and bad news for quantum computer devices based on quantum dots which require that no outside factors affect the circuits, Meir concludes. Magnetic impurities at point contacts would render such computer devices inoperable. However, the magnetic impurity is formed only when conductance through the point of contact is around 0.7, so setting the conductance of each contact below that value should allow a circuit formed by quantum dots to function.

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