Replay 07: Opening the Temple of Learning

Chapter 390 Opening up a new track

"If designed in this way, the number of cores in a topological semimetal chip can far exceed that of a traditional architecture!"

“It’s not a problem for a chip to have hundreds or even thousands of cores!”

"Hundreds of cores?" Wang Gang's eyes widened, his voice full of disbelief, "Do you know what you are talking about?"

"Our current top-level chips only have a dozen cores at most, and you're talking about... hundreds?"

Zhao Kai nodded, his tone filled with shock: "Yes, the chip architecture described in this paper, the number of cores depends entirely on the arrangement of the metal grid."

"As long as the material technology can keep up, the number of cores can reach hundreds or even thousands!"

"Moreover..." Zhao Kai turned to another page and pointed to a data sheet, "The cache capacity can directly match the companion silicon memory. The cache of traditional chips is only tens of megabytes or even less."

"Under this design, the cache capacity can directly reach the TB level!"

"TB level?" Wang Gang murmured again, as if to confirm that he had heard it correctly.

He flipped through a few more pages, his expression becoming increasingly complicated. "Not only the cache, but also the frequency... It says here that the peak frequency can reach over 20 GHz."

"It is several times more powerful than current chips! This... is simply incredible!"

Zhang Lingxi took another page and pointed at the calculation model on it: "That's not all. Look at this - the synchronous division of labor calculation model."

"The multi-core collaboration of traditional chips has bottlenecks, but this design allows each core to work independently through quantum state control."

“At the same time, it can collaborate at high speed, and its efficiency completely surpasses the traditional architecture.”

"If it can really be done... not only will the computing speed be fast, the power consumption will also be low, and the size will be smaller..." Zhao Kai no longer knew what expression to use to express his feelings.

There was a brief silence in the conference room, with only the sound of papers rubbing against each other as papers were flipped through.

"I just checked, this paper..." Zhao Kai operated the laptop quickly. After a few seconds, he suddenly raised his head and looked at Lu Shan with a complicated expression.

"I can't find it at all! It's not on the Internet, nor in academic databases! Mr. Lu, where did this paper come from?"

Wang Gang frowned, and then said, "Indeed, I have read the formula in the paper. It is not something written half-heartedly."

"This kind of in-depth research... must be endorsed by a national laboratory, right? Is this an internal secret?"

Zhao Kai was stunned for a moment, and whispered to himself: "Could it be that Mr. Lu is cooperating with a top laboratory?"

"Or..." He raised his head, and an incredible thought suddenly popped up in his eyes, "Did you write this yourself?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Lu Shan in unison.

Lu Shan stood in front of the table with a calm look.

He gently pushed the paper and turned it to a page with a detailed model of electron transitions, and said slowly:
“This paper comes from a higher level of research.”

“We own the paper.”

This paper was indeed not written by Lu Shan, but by Poincare and Turing, but there is no way to say that.

“But it is the key to our breakthrough in companion silicon.”

"Research at a higher level?" Wang Gang asked in confusion. "What level? How can researchers at this level be related to us?"

Lu Shan glanced at him and did not answer directly: "You don't have to worry about the source for now."

"The point is, can you understand the core idea of ​​this paper?"

"Can you understand it?" Wang Gang smiled bitterly. "This is top-level research in topological physics. We are not real theorists, so how can we fully understand it?"

Zhao Kai interjected: "Although I don't fully understand it, many parts have shocked me."

"Especially the part about multi-core design in topological semimetal chips, I almost felt dizzy after reading it."

"Mr. Lu, can you really explain it clearly?"

"Ask if there is anything you don't understand." Lu Shan spoke slowly.

Wang Gang was the first to ask a question. He tapped the formula in the paper on “Electron Transition and Operational Model” with his fingers:

"Mr. Lu, the transient control of the electron transition state described here...we haven't even done any experimental verification. Can such precise control really be achieved?"

Lu Shan walked to the whiteboard and drew a simplified lattice model with a pen. He said as he drew: "This is achieved through quantum potential wells."

"Electron transitions are constrained by lattice symmetry, and their actual trajectory is controlled by external fields."

"This regulation is not completely free, but because of the special structure of topological semimetals, the state of the transition can be stabilized at discrete values."

He drew several arrows pointing to key points: "For example, here is 0, here is 1."

"As long as the external field is adjusted properly, the electrons can only transition to the preset state and will not deviate."

Wang Gang nodded, his brows relaxed a little: "So that's how it is... This uses topological characteristics to solve many traditional interference problems. But how precise a device does this kind of control require?"

"Laboratory-level precision." Lu Shan replied.

"However, our production line is not out of reach. By improving the regulation capability of field-effect devices, we can gradually achieve mass production."

Wang Gang nodded thoughtfully.

Zhao Kai immediately asked a question: "Mr. Lu, this paper mentioned that chip cache can be expanded to the TB level, but the physical distance of traditional cache technology will increase latency."

"How do we solve the latency problem with this large-capacity cache?"

"That's a good question." Lu Shan smiled faintly and picked up the pen again. "The cache design mentioned in the paper uses dynamic data blocks to connect to the companion silicon memory."

"The cache of traditional chips is limited to the chip, but in our solution, the chip cache and the companion silicon memory are directly interconnected."

He drew a diagram of the interaction between the chip and the memory module on the whiteboard: "In this way, the transmission speed between the cache and the memory will be greatly improved."

“Moreover, since the speed of the companion memory itself is much faster than traditional memory, it can directly take on some of the cache functions.”

Zhao Kai suddenly realized: "In other words, the physical limitation of the cache is compensated by the speed of the companion silicon memory?"

"That's right." Lu Shan nodded. "The traditional architecture has many limitations, and our solution is to break through the limitations with a completely new approach."

Zhang Lingxi stared at the multi-core model in the paper, and suddenly looked up and asked, "Mr. Lu, the multi-core collaboration part of the chip also mentioned hierarchical scheduling."

"I understand the theoretical logic in the paper, but in actual implementation, will this scheduling increase the core synchronization delay?"

Lu Shan smiled slightly: "The delay of traditional architecture comes from the efficiency of synchronization and scheduling."

"In our chip, the scheduling between multiple cores is completed through direct control of quantum states, and there is almost no traditional intermediate process."

He pointed to the description in the paper with a pen: "The core of this theory is that the core groups between metal grids can directly cooperate through quantum states."

"This type of collaboration is similar to parallel computing and does not require traditional serial scheduling." Zhang Lingxi suddenly realized, "So that means the delay between cores is almost completely eliminated?"

"That's right." Lu Shan nodded, "The advantage of this architecture is maximum efficiency."

Wang Gang turned to the last page of the paper and asked, "What about the material technology? The number of chip cores can reach thousands or even more."

"But what level of processing accuracy should metal grilles achieve during mass production? Can our current equipment keep up?"

"It was indeed difficult in the early stages." Lu Shan's tone remained calm, "but the paper has already given a reference direction."

“The precision requirements for metal grids can be achieved by upgrading existing equipment, while the precise connection between multiple cores can be verified through small-scale tests in the early stages.”

He paused and added, "Also, we can first test the performance using a prototype chip with a small number of cores."

“Once the process reliability is verified, we will gradually expand it to thousands of cores.”

Wang Gang nodded, with a look of more trust in his expression.

As Lu Shan explained, one question after another was answered, and the team members gradually turned from confusion to conviction.

The more they understood the content of the paper, the more they were shocked by the technical depth and innovation behind it.

Zhao Kai sighed and said with a complicated expression: "Mr. Lu, this paper not only opens up new ideas, but also takes every detail into consideration. What else can we say?"

Wang Gang also smiled: "Although this road is difficult, I believe that this paper will become our 'Bible' for conquering chip technology."

"We can now be sure that this path is feasible. Next, it depends on how we turn it into reality step by step."

Lu Shan looked around at everyone and said in a low but powerful voice: "This is our mission - to turn theory into reality."

The discussion in the conference room gradually died down. Zhao Kai flipped through the paper in his hand, his eyes still filled with shock.

He couldn't help but look up and said, "Mr. Lu, the value of this paper is simply immeasurable."

“If it is published in a top journal like Nature or Science, it will definitely cause a sensation.”

Wang Gang took over the conversation, his tone full of admiration: "Let alone top journals, even if it is only published in an authoritative magazine in the industry, it is enough to subvert the perception of the entire semiconductor industry."

"When the foreign chip giants see this paper, they will probably be furious."

Zhang Lingxi nodded and said seriously: "Mr. Lu, this paper is not just a theory, it contains complete experimental ideas and practical application directions."

“Once published, Companion’s name will be immediately remembered by the global technology community. We will be the center of the storm.”

However, Lu Shan did not show any excitement.

He just shook his head slightly, his voice low but resolute: "The paper cannot be published for the time being."

"Why?" Zhao Kai was stunned. He obviously didn't expect Lu Shan to refuse.

"Publishing it now will only bring trouble." Lu Shan said calmly, looking at everyone, "Once this paper is made public, we will face two major problems."

"First, competitors will imitate us like crazy, and even use their powerful resources to overtake us."

“Although, I believe that even if they see the paper, they don’t know how to proceed, but I don’t like this feeling.”

"Second, we don't have a physical product yet. If others question the feasibility of this paper, it will be enough to put us in a whirlpool of public opinion."

Wang Gang was silent for a while, then whispered, "Indeed, a paper without product support will only make people think that we are just talking nonsense, and may even lead to malicious suppression."

Lu Shan nodded: "So, my plan is to make the chip first and use the product to prove our strength."

“When the product is launched and the paper is published, everyone will just be catching up with us.”

Zhang Lingxi's eyes lit up and he agreed, "Boss Lu is right. We should seize the market with our products first and take the initiative."

"By then, our technological advantage will be unshakable, and publishing the paper will only be the icing on the cake."

Zhao Kai sighed, revealing a trace of regret: "Then I can only let this paper go and bury it in the companion silicon for the time being."

Lu Shan knocked on the table and said, "Don't worry about the conclusion. The most important thing now is to transform the production line."

"We need equipment that can actually make topological semimetal chips."

He stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and quickly listed a few key tasks.

"First, the transformation of the existing production lines." Lu Shan wrote the words "equipment upgrade" on the whiteboard with a pen.

"Currently our production lines are used to manufacture memory and hard disks, and there is still a big gap in the requirements for topological semimetal chips."

“When renovating a production line, the first thing to solve is the accuracy problem.”

Zhao Kai raised his hand and asked, "Mr. Lu, the precision requirements for chip production are much higher than those for memory and hard disks. Can our current equipment meet the requirements?"

"No." Lu Shan said bluntly, "The arrangement of topological semimetal lattices requires nanometer-level precision, and current equipment cannot meet this standard."

"But we can improve on existing equipment."

He sketched a high-temperature furnace: “For example, a furnace used for the synthesis of topological semimetals needs to be stable at high temperatures and pressures.”

“Our existing plasma furnace can only support low-volume production, and the accuracy of temperature and pressure control must be improved.”

Wang Gang nodded: "Indeed, fluctuations in temperature and pressure will cause the metal lattice to be disordered. This part must be solved."

Lu Shan then drew a graphic of a spraying device: "The second is the transformation of the coating equipment."

"The grid structure of topological semimetals requires a conductive film to be evenly sprayed on the wafer."

“This process requires spraying with atomic-level precision while ensuring that the film thickness is completely consistent.”

Zhao Kai touched his chin and said thoughtfully: "Do we need to introduce a new type of spray head? Traditional spray equipment may not be able to achieve this kind of precision."

"That's right." Lu Shan nodded, "I will contact several professional equipment manufacturers to customize a batch of ultra-high precision spraying components."

He paused, then wrote the words "metal structure" on the whiteboard: "The third is to optimize the metal structure according to our requirements and arrange the grilles in a regular manner to make it logically optimal."

"This step is very important, the arrangement of the metal grid, the core structure of the topological semimetal chip."

"We need a new high-frequency metal structure optimization device that can perform non-destructive processing on nanometer-scale gaps."

Wang Gang sighed: "Few people can make this kind of equipment. Can we get it?"

Lu Shan's eyes were firm: "There is an equipment manufacturer on BanSi's list of partners. I will go and talk to them in person. They have the ability to help us customize such equipment. If this company can't make it, we will make it ourselves."

"Fourth, quantum field effect tester." Lu Shan continued.

(End of this chapter)