back to article NTT thinks it's defined the PERFECT AMPERE with a cunning trap

Researchers from NTT in Japan have demonstrated what they hope will be that company's contribution to the definition of a new ampere: single electron transfer in silicon, at relatively high speed in a charge-confining trap. The accurate transfer of electrons in one direction provides a high-accuracy measurement of current flow …

  1. Christian Berger

    @Reg Number of electrons != current

    The number of electrons defines the charge. Current is the number of electrons per second.

    So they don't need longer to count to an Ampere, they just cannot run that much current through there line as it only does a couple of million electrons per second.

    1. Justin Case
      Coat

      Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

      Form an orderly coulomb....

      Hat, coat.

      1. jake Silver badge

        Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

        Watt?

        1. mccp

          Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

          Resistance is futile.

          It's ok, Ohm leaving.

          1. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

            Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

            Yeah, this thread is going to cause a great re-Volt in modern physics...

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

              Ah but is the current definition or an obsolete one?

      2. Sir Runcible Spoon
        Coat

        Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

        "coulomb"

        Why does the number 6*10^23 suddenly pop into my mind?

        Blimey, it's been 20+ years since I did my electrical/electronics course - the brain is a funny old thing. Most of the time I need to reminded what Faraday it is!

        Never mind, I managed to dig this up..

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_%28unit%29

        1. Canecutter

          Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

          That 6*10^23 is approximately Avogadro's number (N).

          The elementary charge (denoted "q") is approximately 1.6*10^-19 Coulomb

          The number you want is approximately 1.6*10^19 electrons per Coulomb

    2. DocJames

      Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

      they just cannot run that much current through there line

      I think you mean their.

      [fantasises about running billions and billions of electrons per second through all those who make there/their/they're errors]

      1. choleric

        Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

        @DocJames

        Or else a missing "that". As in "through that there line."

        Oh, hang on, it's not Pirate Friday yet is it?

        1. Juan Inamillion

          Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

          Pirate Faraday, surely...

          /Mines the Faraday Cage Coat...

        2. Mark 85
          Devil

          Re: @Reg Number of electrons != current

          As in "through that there line."

          It might not be Pirate Friday but given that this could be used by the Good Ol' Boys... it'll work for Trailer Trash Tuesday.

  2. unitron
    Childcatcher

    Perfect Ampere

    I think I saw one of their albums in a remainder bin back in the '70s.

    The icon has no connection to this post, I just want to know who that is and why they're being used as an icon. I guessing it's sort of a UK-centric thing.

    1. Kristian Walsh Silver badge

      Re: Perfect Ampere

      http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0027426/

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What is the El Reg Unit of Current?

    What does the Vulture Central Weights and Measures Soviet dictate to be the correct unit of current, and of potential difference for that matter?

    1. Vladimir Plouzhnikov

      Re: What is the El Reg Unit of Current?

      I don't know but would propose "electron-deadbolts" for the former and "sparks" for the latter...

      1. Will Godfrey Silver badge
        Happy

        Re: What is the El Reg Unit of Current?

        Ask the PFY, he'd know for sure.

    2. Grikath

      Re: What is the El Reg Unit of Current?

      the *Bzzzerrt!* (Bzt) defined as the current needed to make a member of Management jump up one Standard Office Floor Level upon sitting down.

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