Memristors by Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

Memristor behavior is explained with a physical model based on quantum mechanics that claims charge is naturally created anytime energy is absorbed at the nanoscale. Quantum mechanics requires specific heat to vanish at the nanoscale, and therefore the electrical resistive heating in the memristor cannot be conserved by an increase in temperature. Conservation proceeds by frequency up-conversion of the absorbed energy to produce photons that in submicron thin films have energy beyond the ultraviolet. By the photoelectric effect, the photons create excitons inside the memristor that decrease resistance only to be recovered later in the same cycle as the electrons and holes of the excitons are attracted to and destroyed by the polarity of the voltage terminals. Observed memristor behavior is therefore the consequence of excitons being created and destroyed every cycle.