Arthur Hanson
Well-known member
Will there ever be a chip that uses light instead of electrical current? Is it even possible?
Optical chips?
- Thread starter Arthur Hanson
- Start date
The idea of using light instead of electricity to power computer chips is moving from science fiction to reality. Photonic chips, or optical processors, transmit information using photons rather than electrons. Because photons travel at the speed of light and produce virtually no heat, they promise enormous gains in speed and energy efficiency. Instead of metal wires, these chips use waveguides to steer light, modulators to encode data, and photodetectors to read signals.
Companies such as Intel, IBM, Ayar Labs, and Lightmatter are pioneering silicon photonics—integrating optical components with traditional transistors. These hybrid systems are already used in data centers to accelerate communication and reduce power consumption. Researchers are also experimenting with purely optical logic systems capable of performing computations through light interference, potentially transforming AI and supercomputing.
Podcast EP69: Ayar Labs and the Future of Optical I/O - Semiwiki
Dan is joined by Hugo Saleh, senior VP of commercial operations and managing director of Ayar Labs, UK. Hugo discusses the technology and application of optical I/O, its use and impact now and in the future. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in these podcasts belong solely to the...
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