The Missing Memristor has Not been Found.

Sascha Vongehr,Xiangkang Meng

doi:10.1038/srep11657

Sascha Vongehr, Xiangkang Meng

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11657

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Abstract

In 1971, not only the theoretical and by definition already existing ‘ideal memristor’ concept was introduced, but a real memristor device was suggested on grounds of the already known real inductors. The latter is a scientifically significant hypothesis grounded in fundamental symmetries of basic physics, here electro-magnetism. 2008 claimed the discovery of the “missing memristor.” Controversy arose: The devices were not new, and the hypothesized device needs magnetism but has no material memory, while the available devices constitute analogue memory that would work in a world without magnetism. Nevertheless, even the originator of the prediction accepted the discovery. Defenders of the 2008 claim emphasize that the devices are not merely ‘memristive systems,’ which is however a distinction defined in 1976, not 1971. We clarify widely confused concepts and maintain that the originally hypothesized real memristor device is missing and likely impossible. The argument is illustrated also by finding an ideal mechanical memristor element and purely mechanical memristive systems, and hypothesizing a real mechanical memristor device that requires inert mass just like the 1971 implied device requires magnetic induction.

Highlights

There was immediately controversy around that the devices are neither new nor the 1971 proposed real memristor device[6,7]
The difference between the ideal memristor and the hypothesized real memristor device is best understood by showing how all four ideal BCE arise in circuit theory without magnetism. This fact is often stated in defense of the 2008 claim, so we must show what this means and how it differs from circuit theory with magnetism
We described not just electrical circuit theory that has no magnetism and the precisely analogous mechanical circuit theory without mass

Summary

OPEN The Missing Memristor has Not been Found

Sascha Vongehr & Xiangkang Meng received: 06 January 2015 accepted: 29 May 2015 Published: 25 June 2015. In 1971, the theoretical and by definition already existing ‘ideal memristor’ concept was introduced, but a real memristor device was suggested on grounds of the already known real inductors. The latter is a scientifically significant hypothesis grounded in fundamental symmetries of basic physics, here electro-magnetism. We clarify widely confused concepts and maintain that the originally hypothesized real memristor device is missing and likely impossible. The ‘ideal resistor’ (or resistance R), ‘ideal capacitor’ C, and ‘ideal inductor’ L are the traditionally known basic two-terminal circuit elements (BCE) They were known because they have closely corresponding simple devices; for example two metal plates make a real (non-ideal) capacitor device; a metal coil is a real inductor device. The fatal rebuttal like ours here, focused on fundamental theory. (Garwin calculated that if Weber’s detection were real, the universe would have converted all its energy into gravitational radiation in only 50 million years.)

Refusing the Discovery of the Originally Proposed Memristor Device

Conclusion

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