Looking ahead for photonic computer technology: Siberian team ‘saved’ data in crystal
At the core of the innovative approach was a combination of what’s known as the beam refraction effect inside a crystal at a certain angle in certain conditions and the electrical field effect in the crystal
Sep 24, 2015
At the Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radio Electronics (TUSUR), researchers have developed new technology that could make it possible to build computers which use light to transmit a signal rather than electricity, the website of this Siberian university announced.
"Studies being conducted at TUSUR are bringing scientists closer to creating compact, very small and non-volatile components to control light beams, which could then be used to process and transmit data in photonic computers with a reduced loss of energy and at much higher speeds than it is possible with current electronics," the developers claim.
The project results stemmed from broader research, in which the scientists were figuring how to control light beams in a crystal. A method was developed, enabling the team to use laser technology to ‘save’ information in lithium niobate crystals.
At the core of the innovative approach was a combination of what’s known as the beam refraction effect inside a crystal at a certain angle in certain conditions and the electrical field effect in the crystal.
The approach enabled the researchers to obtain crystals with a photonic structure ‘built’ by the light, a network of waveguides a few microns each in diameter, which were then used to transmit a light signal.
"Such crystals with waveguide optical structures ‘saved’ inside could be likened to printed circuit boards that are currently used in electronics," the developers said.
At the moment, TUSUR has an experimental prototype system; by next year the team plans to get it patented.
"Studies being conducted at TUSUR are bringing scientists closer to creating compact, very small and non-volatile components to control light beams, which could then be used to process and transmit data in photonic computers with a reduced loss of energy and at much higher speeds than it is possible with current electronics," the developers claim.
The project results stemmed from broader research, in which the scientists were figuring how to control light beams in a crystal. A method was developed, enabling the team to use laser technology to ‘save’ information in lithium niobate crystals.
At the core of the innovative approach was a combination of what’s known as the beam refraction effect inside a crystal at a certain angle in certain conditions and the electrical field effect in the crystal.
The approach enabled the researchers to obtain crystals with a photonic structure ‘built’ by the light, a network of waveguides a few microns each in diameter, which were then used to transmit a light signal.
"Such crystals with waveguide optical structures ‘saved’ inside could be likened to printed circuit boards that are currently used in electronics," the developers said.
At the moment, TUSUR has an experimental prototype system; by next year the team plans to get it patented.