We always encounter various problems in our lives, and some problems require us to establish some mathematical models to solve them. For example, a sound engineer wants to design a sound system for a concert hall. He wants to ensure that all corners of the concert hall have the best sound effects, but of course he can’t install the speakers first and then test the sound effects, because if it’s not suitable, It’s too much trouble to remove the speaker and start over again. At this point, the establishment of mathematical models, or equations, comes in handy. The general sound engineer's approach is to first establish an equation, use the equation to infer the sound effects of each location in the concert hall, and then install the sound system after finding a suitable solution.
At the current level of technology, this equation does not require sound engineers to solve, and calculators, computers, etc. can help us solve the problem. Now, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States have developed a material that can solve equations. It can help in a few hundred nanoseconds (one billionth of a second) or even a few picoseconds (one trillionth of a second). We solve the above-mentioned problems.
This equipment with special structure is made of ground polystyrene plastic, which can simulate the computer to solve the equation and directly calculate the sound effect.
Specially structured metamaterials
With the development of materials science, scientists have been designing and manufacturing various materials with unique properties, one of which is metamaterials. This type of material is a man-made material that is not found in nature, allowing light and electromagnetic waves to change their usual properties. There is nothing special about the composition of metamaterials. Their peculiar properties are derived from their precise geometric structure and size.
The same is true for this metamaterial that can solve equations designed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania. Its material composition is nothing special, just common insulating materials, such as polystyrene plastic materials, but its interior contains images A special structure like a maze, this structure can be engraved by a CNC milling machine (a processing machine tool controlled by a digital signal).
Use internal structure to solve equations
In fact, the nature of the material is to simulate a computer, that is, one physical quantity is used to replace another physical quantity. The substituted physical quantity is easier to manipulate and process, so it is easier to find the solution of the equation. To give a simple example, for example, in order to obtain a certain physical quantity, we have listed a mathematical equation such as ax+b=c (of course, the actual equation is not that simple). Then, the three parameters a, b, and c of the equation need to be encoded in the electromagnetic wave, that is, by changing the amplitude or wavelength of the electromagnetic wave (electromagnetic wave is a physical quantity used for substitution), let the incident electromagnetic wave represent the parameter value, and get x=( cb) The result of /a.
Researchers will design the structure of the "maze material" according to a specific type of equation, such as the one-dimensional linear equation in the example. In fact, for each equation, the "labyrinth material" will have a different internal structure. The "labyrinth material" will process the incident electromagnetic wave and change its wavelength and amplitude. This step is actually the process of solving the equation of the material. In the end, the output electromagnetic wave will carry the solution of the unknown number x of the equation, and researchers can interpret the characteristics of the electromagnetic wave as numerical values.
University of Pennsylvania researchers who developed special materials
Photon calculations increase speed
Researchers have used microwaves with longer wavelengths to verify the material's ability to solve equations. It is several orders of magnitude faster than the most commonly used digital computer, and because it uses electromagnetic waves, it uses less electricity. Of course, people can make different "maze" structures according to different needs (different equations).
At present, the researchers have placed the input and output ends on both ends of the material, forming a device of about 0.18 square meters. But the hollow part of the material can be reduced to only allow photons (also electromagnetic waves) to pass through, and be placed in the chip, which may open a new door for the advancement of computers, and create a computer chip that uses photons completely. The processing speed is greatly improved, and the processing time is greatly shortened.
Researchers hope that this idea can be realized sooner, but this must be just a stage in the development of computer technology. Perhaps this metamaterial will soon be replaced by another metamaterial with a better and finer structure. Never underestimate the speed of technological innovation.
