Intel's 14A Magic Bullet: Directed Self-Assembly (DSA)

semianalysis.com

51 points·rbanffy··8 comments

Keeps referring to high-NA and low-NA. What's NA? (Numerical aperture is all that comes to mind.)

Numerical aperture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_aperture

Heh, edit jinx. This answer leaves me almost as at sea, so I guess my time's not best spent on this article. Thanks.

In optics, the numerical aperture (NA) of an optical system is a dimensionless number that characterizes the range of angles over which the system can accept or emit light.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_aperture

>Customers will use 18A to dip their toes in the Intel waters with less critical chips that are not core to their business

Yeah...how many customers will use the most advanced tech for "less critical chips". The real question is not whether Intel's tech works...it's if they can mass produce it efficiently. 7nm worked just fine on a chip by chip basis...but they struggled for years on getting the yield and output to place where customers would want it.

Agreed. Intel has pulled some amazing rabbits out of their hat over the years when they fell behind. I want to believe. If they pull it off this will be an amazing reinvention. But we have to be honest the smart money is probably on Intel being fabless when 18A and 14A drags on and they need to rely on TSMC

Fantastic article with a $500 paywall halfway through. oof.

Most valuable information is hidden behind walls :)

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