First Hybrid Silicon Laser Developed

CHIP TECH

Hybrid Silicon Laser die slice

by Staff Writers
UPI Correspondent
Santa Barbara CA (UPI) Sep 20, 2006
U.S. scientists say they have built the world's first electrically powered Hybrid Silicon Laser using standard silicon manufacturing processes. The researchers from the University of California-Santa Barbara and Intel Corporation say the breakthrough addresses one of the last major barriers to producing low-cost, high-bandwidth silicon photonics devices for use inside and around future computers and data centers.

The researchers say they combined the light-emitting properties of Indium Phosphide with the light-routing capabilities of silicon into a single hybrid chip. When voltage is applied, light generated in the Indium Phosphide enters the silicon waveguide to create a continuous laser beam that can be used to drive other silicon photonic devices.

A laser based on silicon could drive wider use of photonics in computers because the cost can be greatly reduced by using high-volume silicon manufacturing techniques, the scientists said.

"This could bring low-cost, terabit-level optical 'data pipes' inside future computers and help make possible a new era of high-performance computing applications," said Mario Paniccia, director of Intel's Photonics Technology Lab.

Source: United Press International

CHIP TECH

New Study Shakes A Quantum Bridge

Ithaca NY (UPI) Sep 20, 2006
Quantum physicists view what they call "back-action" as a nuisance, but a U.S. study suggests the phenomenon might be put to good use. According to quantum theory, an object cannot be measured without perturbing it; the act of observation delivers a series of "prods" to the object being observed, much like a star deviates from orbit when it passes another object.

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