New processors are getting hotter with almost every generation. A study conducted by the University of California shows that thermal transistors may be the solution. Thermal transistors are currently only in the experimental stages and offer an attractive way to distribute and dissipate heat that could be of interest to companies like AMD and Intel.
Modern chips are becoming smaller, but power consumption remains almost unchanged. As energy is converted into heat, this means that more heat is stored in a smaller area. Heat is often concentrated in a specific part of the processor – a hot spot. Even if the chip's average temperature is within normal limits, heat from a hot spot can prevent it from performing better.
Thermal transistors distribute heat evenly across the processor chip using an electric field. This uses a one-molecule-thick layer that becomes thermally conductive when power is supplied. Thermal transistors can move heat from a hot spot to a cooler part of the chip. Compared to conventional cooling methods, the experimental transistors were 13 times better at heat distribution.
Like an electronic transistor, the UCLA thermal transistor uses electric fields to modulate channel conductance, in this case thermal rather than electrical. This is done by using a thin film of molecules that acts as a transistor channel. The application of an electric field makes the molecular bonds in the film stronger, which increases its thermal conductivity.
Using this single-molecule layer, the researchers were able to achieve maximum conductivity changes at frequencies above 1 MHz, which is orders of magnitude faster than other thermal management systems. Molecular motion typically controls heat flow in other types of thermal switches, but it is quite slow compared to electron motion. The use of an electric field made it possible to accelerate the transition from millihertz to megahertz.
As processor designers refine designs and increase frequencies for greater performance, overheating becomes increasingly difficult to manage. Bringing thermal transistors out of the lab and into consumer devices could reduce the problem of uneven heat density, if not completely solve it.
Vacancies
Design Lead Spribe
Marketing Director League Design Agency, Kiev
Junior SEO specialist Zeeks
Sources: Science, IEEE Spectrum, Tom's Hardware