Light is a more energy efficient way of transferring data than electricity but the rapid attenuation of light signals in microchips has prevented the use of light as a source of an information signal.
However, researchers at Aalto University have now developed a nanosized amplifier that is able to help light signals propagate through microchips. The researchers have been able to show that signal attenuation can be significantly reduced when data is transferred inside a microchip, for example, from one processor to another.
‘Photonics, or light transfer that is already widely used in internet connections, is increasingly being used by microcircuit systems because light is a more energy efficient and faster way of transferring data than electricity. Boosting performance through electronic methods is getting to be very difficult, which is why we’re looking towards photonics for answers,’ says doctoral candidate John Rönn.
The researchers made their breakthrough with the help of a Finnish invention: the atomic layer deposition method. According to the team, using this method it is possible to process various kinds of microcircuits, as it plays an important role in manufacturing today's microprocessors.
So far, the atomic layer deposition method has been used mainly in electronic applications. However, the newly released study indicates that possible applications also exist in photonics.
"Silicon is a key material in electronics, and that’s why it’s also included in our light amplifiers together with the amplification element erbium," explained Rönn. "Today's compound semiconductors can be used effectively in light amplification. That being said, most compound semiconductors are not compatible with silicon, which is a problem for mass production."
The study showed that a light signal can be potentially boosted in all kinds of structures and that the structure of a microchip is not limited to a specific type. The results indicate that atomic layer deposition is a promising method for developing microchip photonic processes.
"Our international collaboration made a breakthrough with one component: a nanosized amplifier. The amplification that we got was very significant. But we’ll still need more components before light can completely replace electricity in data transfer systems. The first possible applications are in nanolasers, and in sending and amplifying data,’ saID Professor Zhipei Sun.
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications
