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[Neon]

Researchers at IBM have discovered a way of getting more out of the current method used to make computer chips.
They say they have been able to etch circuits on silicon wafers that are a third of the width of those produced using existing technology.

The technique could lead to smaller and higher capacity chips, and delay a switch to costlier and unproven chip-making methods.

Current technology is reaching its physical limits as chips become tinier.
The methods used by the scientists at IBM's Almaden Research Center in San Jose, California, uses a method called deep-ultraviolet optical lithography.

This is essentially the method used to etch circuits on chips. The IBM team said they were able to "print" circuits that are 29.9 nanometres wide.

This is about one-third of the width of the smallest computer circuits in mass production today. One nanometre is a billionth of a metre.