What is the lowest possible nm for a device?

[loveCZ]

As I have seen from the news, Intel is approaching 22nm and bypassing 28nm. If I have remembered correctly, the lowest possible nanometre in this world should be 22nm, then what would the next step of enhancement for the chip?

Just a curiosity, sudden thought, hehe, please express views

 

[Art]

If I have remembered correctly, the lowest possible nanometre in this world should be 22nm

I think it's more that the theoretical limit for the current type of manufacturing process is 22nm. Once they hit that limit they can either start trying to improve hardware some other way, or they could try developing new manufacturing processes that'll take it down even further.

EDIT: Yep, take a peek. They can't get the light wavelength to go down enough for traditional photolithography, so they're planning to use larger wavelengths presumably with some odd physics effects to give the equivalent of something smaller.

 

[racerboy59]

eventually we will have to move away from sillicon chips, and take up new materials.

 

[Audigex]

Quantum Computing