Exciting, hmmm? At least in theory.
Silicon photonics could save the computer industry
The future of computing may need a light touch – literally. As chips move more and more data around, the metallic wiring on and between them eventually won’t be able to keep up.
The solution may be silicon photonics, a technology that employs silicon as an optical material. If compatible with standard CMOS semiconductor processing, silicon photonics promises inexpensive optical devices, easy integration with electronics and speedy data delivery.
First, though, researchers must grapple with a variety of issues, including reducing the cost to virtually nothing and finding ways to overcome a basic material drawback.
“The fundamental problem is silicon doesn’t emit light. It’s an indirect bandgap material,” said John Bowers, a leading researcher in the field and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
photo { Stephen Gelb }
