NEXT HIGH TECH BREAKTHROUGH:THE VACUUM TUBE?

摘要

Vacuum tubes are generally thought of as technological dinosaurs, having been replaced by cheaper, lighter, more efficient semiconductors. Tube amps, however, are still prized by musicians and some audiophiles, and the technology still rules in things like high power transmitters and microwave ovens. In addition, tubes can withstand high radiation environments and - because electrons move about 600 times faster through a vacuum than silicon - they offer some electrical advantages. Proving that "everything old is new again," a team of researchers from NASA's Ames Research Center and the Korean National Nanofab Center have created a prototype that combines both technologies.