A group of researchers from the American Purdue university has a new optical component was developed that can be used to optical information processing. The components in chips are ge lwa integrated.
A problem with the use of optical signals to large amounts of data to transport is the integration with existing systems. To have meaningful operations with optical data, the optical signals are generally converted into electrical signals, then conventional chips with the dates you can count. With the new components of the Purdue scientists of the Birck Nanotechnology Center would direct the optical signals can be considered.
They have developed to this end, an optical diode, that allows light to selectively be transmitted or stopped. The diode works passively and consists of two silicon rings with a diameter of 10 microns. When an optical signal through the one ring goes, it is allowed to pass, but when it by the other ring, it stopped. The components function in that way so as diodes and are completely passive. The diodes can, by means of selective heating can be adjusted for different wavelengths.
According to the Purdue researchers are the diodes is almost ready for commercial use. The production would be compatible with cmos production, which is simple and inexpensive. The researchers see a role for chips with the optical diodes in optical interconnects for high-speed links between processors to realize.
