Photonic materials are the ones that emit, detect or manipulate light. These materials play a crucial role in various sectors such as telecommunications, data processing and storage, and solar cells. Because of their vast usage, there is a continuous need to make them efficient. Researchers, at the University of Central Florida (UCF), are developing new photonic materials that could one day enable ultra-fast, light-based computing. Known as topological insulators, the unique materials are like wires that have been turned inside out, meaning they carry the current on the outside while the interiors are insulated. [1]

Figure 1. Researchers create photonic materials for powerful, efficient light-based computing

Figure 1 shows the researchers laser-etched a honeycomb pattern into a sample of silica, a material commonly used to make photonic circuits.

The knots in the design allow researchers to modulate the current without bending or stretching the photonic wires, an important feature needed to control the flow of light and therefore the information in the circuit.

The new photonic material overcomes the shortcomings of current topological designs, which offered fewer features and control, while supporting much longer propagation lengths of information packets by minimizing power losses. [2]

Researchers added that topological insulators could allow the use of faster photonic computers that use less energy and could also one day lead to quantum computing, thus allowing processing power hundreds of millions of times faster than today's computers.

The development of new photonic materials plays a vital role in the growth of information technology in the 21st century. [3]

Topological insulators could also one day lead to quantum computing as their features could be used to protect and harness fragile quantum information bits, thus allowing processing power hundreds of millions of times faster than today's conventional computers.

The researchers confirmed their findings using advanced imaging techniques and numerical simulations. [4]

References:

1. https://gadgets360.com/science/news/researchers-develop-photonic-materials-topological-insulators-enable-efficient-light-based-computing-university-of-central-florida-2993529
2. https://timetotimes.com/scientists-create-photonic-materials-for-powerful-efficient-light-based-computing/
3. https://news.zordo.in/researchers-develop-photonic-materials-for-efficient-light-based-computing-215796.html
4. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220518113827.htm

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Researchers create photonic materials for powerful, efficient light-based computing, Anatechmaz, pp. 63