Defects combine to make perfect devices Jun 26, 2002 Faulty
components are usually rejected in the manufacture of computers
and other high-tech devices. However, Damien Challet and Neil
Johnson of Oxford University say that this need not be the case.
They have used statistical physics to show that the errors from
defective electronic components or other imperfect objects can
be combined to create near perfect devices (D Challet and N
Johnson 2002 Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 028701). Most computers are
built to withstand the faults that develop in some of their
components over the course of the computer’s lifetime, although
these components initially contain no defects. However, many
emerging nano- and microscale technologies will be inherently
susceptible to defects. For example, no two quantum dots
manufactured by self-assembly will be identical. Each will
contain a time-independent systematic defect compared to the
original design. Historically, sailors have had to cope with a
similar problem – the inaccuracy in th