Here is a new research project set up under the EU's funding round for nanotechnology. Following on from a paper by Dr Alain Nogaret of the University of Bath, physicists will examine whether firing electrons into magenetic fields will produce targeted microwave energy removing the need for wiring within chips.
The latest research is the first attempt to turn theory into practice. "The work could be very important for the creation of faster, more powerful comp uters," said Dr Nogaret.
"We can only go so far in getting more power from silicon chips by shrinking their components. Conventional technology is already reaching the physical limits of the materials it uses, such as copper wiring, and its evolution will come to a halt."
Dr Nogaret added that, if this research is successful, it could make computers with wireless semi-conductors a possibility within five or ten years from the end of the project.
This presents one of the research projects that have become a wave bearing down on the limitatiosn threatening the ongoing march of Moore's law.