Ion Doping of Amorphous Chalcogenides
Promotes Optical Computing
University of Surry
This development could significantly increase computer processing speeds
and power in the future.
The findings, from the University
of Surrey in collaboration with the University of Cambridge
and the University
of Southampton
By using a technique called ion doping, the team of researchers have
discovered a material that could use light to bring together different
computing functions into one component, leading to all-optical systems.
Computers currently depend upon electrons to transfer information
and process applications, yet data sources such as the internet rely on optical
systems; the transfer of information using light. Optical fibres are used
to send information around the world at the speed of light, but these signals
then have to be converted to electrical signals once they reach a computer,
causing a significant slowdown in processing.
“The challenge is to find a single material that can effectively use and
control light to carry information around a computer. Much like how the web
uses light to deliver information, we want to use light to both deliver and
process computer data,” said project leader Dr Richard Curry,
who works at Surrey 's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI).
“This has eluded researchers for decades, but now we have now shown how a
widely used glass can be manipulated to conduct negative electrons, as well as
positive charges, creating what are known as ‘pn-junction’ devices. This should
enable the material to act as a light source, a light guide and a light
detector – something that can carry and interpret optical information. In doing
so, this could transform the computers of tomorrow, allowing them to effectively
process information at much faster speeds.”
Scientists expect that the results of this research may be integrated into
computers within ten years. In the short term, the glass is already being
developed and used in next-generation computer memory technology known as CRAM,
which may ultimately be integrated with the advances reported.
No comments:
Post a Comment