The Archive Journal

Semiconductor Physics Moore's Law and the Physical Limits of Silicon

An examination of Gordon Moore's 1965 projection and its encounter with the fundamental physical constraints of silicon: atomic gate oxides, quantum leakage, and the limits of photolithographic resolution.

Microarchitecture The Evolution of CISC vs RISC Architectures

From the complex instruction philosophies of the IBM System/370 to the load-store simplicity of SPARC and MIPS — tracing the architectural debate that shaped modern processor design.

Quantum Effects Quantum Tunneling: When Transistors Get Too Small

At sub-5 nm gate lengths, the wave nature of electrons produces measurable leakage current through classically forbidden regions. A rigorous examination of the quantum mechanical threshold in modern MOSFET design.

Materials Science Material Science of Motherboards: Fiberglass and Copper

FR-4 epoxy, copper foil laminates, and the thermal management challenges of high-frequency substrate design. A material science examination of the printed circuit board from core to copper.

Logic History The History of the Logic Gate: From Relays to Silicon

Boolean algebra found its first physical embodiment in electromagnetic relays; its ultimate miniaturisation in CMOS. Tracing the implementation history of the AND, OR, and NOT operations across seven decades.