Atomic scale electronic switch

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
An electronic switch comprising: (a) a plurality of terminals permanently fixed with respect to each other and spaced apart less than 100A; (b) an atom switching element having at least a first and a second state; and (c) means for moving said switching element back and forth between a first position and a second position to change the state of said atom switching element back and forth between said first state and said second state.
2.
The switch of claim 1 wherein said switch further comprises means for determining the state of the atom switching element.
3.
An electronic switch comprising: (a) a plurality of terminals permanently fixed with respect to each other and spaced apart less than 100A; (b) an atom switching element having at least a first and second state and (c) means for moving said switching element back and forth between a first position and a second position to change the state of said atom switching element back and forth between said first state and said second state, said first state having a different conductance condition between said terminals than said second state.
4.
The switch of claim 3 wherein said first position is on one of said terminals and said second position is on another of said terminals.
5.
The switch of claim 4, wherein said means includes means for applying a voltage to effect movement of the atom switching element.
6.
The switch of claim 4, wherein said means includes means for applying a current to effect movement of the atom switching element.
7.
An electronic switch comprising (a) a plurality of terminals permanently fixed with respect to each other and spaced apart less than 100A; (b) an atom switching element between the terminals; and (c) means for applying an electrical pulse of appropriate polarity and magnitude between selectable ones of said terminals for causing said switching element to move back and forth between said selectable terminals for correspondingly changing the switch from one state to another state