Laser pulses will accelerate computers by thousands of times
Scientists have developed a technology that enables logical operations to be performed using ultrashort light pulses, which could make processors thousands of times faster than those currently available. The experiment was conducted at room temperature and paves the way for the creation of ultra-fast optical computing equipment.
Cursus
Researchers have developed a technology that enables logical operations to be performed using ultrashort light pulses. This approach could lead to the creation of processors capable of operating hundreds of times faster than today’s electronic devices.
Overcoming Physical Limitations
Traditional computers process information by moving electric charges through semiconductor transistors, a method limited by physical speed constraints. To overcome this barrier, scientists have turned to a technology that uses oscillating light not only for data transmission but also for data processing.
Using Laser Pulses
In the experiment, precisely controlled laser pulses were used to manipulate material and perform logical operations at frequencies exceeding 10 terahertz. This is more than a thousand times faster than the speed of the best modern processors.
A New Material for Computing
The foundation of this technology is tungsten disulfide—a two-dimensional material just three atomic layers thick. In this ultrathin layer, electrons can exist in two distinct quantum states known as “valleys.” These states function as new units of information, similar to zeros and ones in traditional computing, but can be controlled much more rapidly.
Manipulating Information States
By using a sequence of ultrashort light flashes, each lasting only a few quadrillionths of a second, researchers were able to selectively activate, deactivate, and control these information states.
Operations at Room Temperature
All operations were conducted at room temperature using light pulses already employed in laboratory settings. This optical approach also allowed for independent measurement of how long the encoded information remains stable before it decays, which is crucial for future practical applications.
Development Prospects
Despite existing challenges, such as scaling up the number of bits and developing more complex sequences of light pulses, this experiment lays the groundwork for a new generation of ultra-fast, light-based computing equipment.