A computer stores data with switches that are either turned on or off. If the switch is on, the value is a 1; if off the value is 0. This is a ‘bit’ of data.

By arranging these 0 and 1 in different ways, we tell the computer what to do. This is called the Binary Language. For example this arrangement of 0s and 1s- 01100101- tells the computer it is an “e”.

Anyway, for a science fiction story I was writing, I was wondering how small can computer storage get? At the atomic level? Subatomic level?

I started thinking how an atom might be used for storage. What if we used the state of the electron field around an atom to give us some varable?

Lets take a the simplest atom, a hydrogen atom. I hydrogen atom can have no electrons, making it a positive hydrogen ion; a single electron, making a neutral hydrogen atom; two electrons making it a negative hydrogen ion.

Say our computer chip is has hydrogen atoms/ions at the end of each switch and say we can add or remove electrons. We now have a very tiny 3-way switch. Instead of on/off (1/0) we have X,Y, and Z giving us far more combinations than 0 and 1. We now have 0,1, 2.

Such a system would be small, and it could store massive amounts of data compared to its silicon counterparts.

We could use larger atoms, but they would take up more space, however, they would have more combinations. Larger atoms have several Energy Levels (Shells) These are, if I remember my chemistry correctly, the K,L,M,N and O shells. As energy is applied or removed from an atom, its electrons jump between shells. This could give us many combination for data storage with each atom.

As I get time, I will explore this idea further. It makes good science fiction, and who know, maybe it will lead to something useful.

Robert E. Bleier