Researchers at the University of Colorado in the United States have created that indicate is the first processor that makes use of light, and not electricity, to transmit data. Although it is not a full-fledged “Photonic” microprocessor, the progress is remarkable.
In fact its elements of input/output optical bring a bandwidth of 300Gbps per square millimeter, representing an increase ranging from 10 to 50 times what is traditionally achieved. This development could revolutionize the future of microprocessors, and marks a major advance in the way of these components.
Photonics technology has many advantages
So far had failed to integrate Photonic devices in the same processes that are used to manufacture computer chips, but now they have succeeded and that is the key to implement this solution without the manufacturing costs to climb to the clouds.
As one of those responsible, “the advantage of optical technology is that with the same amount of energy you can transmit a few centimeters to a few meters or a few kilometers”. In traditional power transmission systems it usually required the inclusion of repeaters to regenerate that signal, which in turn makes it necessary to increase the required energy and that is consumed.
At the moment this is a preliminary development in which these researchers continue to work: the processor has two cores, measures 3×6 mm and is not particularly powerful, but the room for improvement is exceptional if we consider the possibilities that this can give the time to transmit large amounts of information.
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