Optical Control of Light on a Silicon Chip

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Optical Control of Light on a Silicon Chip

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday October 27, 2004 @09:45PM from the light-turns-it-on dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at Cornell University have demonstrated a device that allows one low-powered beam of light to switch another on and off, on silicon, a key component for future "photonic" microcircuits in which light replaces electrons for propagating signals. It is highly desirable to use silicon--the dominant material in the microelectronic industry--as the platform for these photonic chips. The approach developed confines the beam to be switched in a circular resonator, greatly reducing the footprint required on the chip and allowing a very small change in refractive index to shift the material from transparent to opaque."

13 of 129 comments (clear)

Shedding some light... by rooijan · 2004-10-27 21:50 · Score: 5, Funny

This certainly sheds some light on the future of technology - hell, you could even say they are going to light the path of progress!

...sorry, couldn't help myself.

--
Daar is nie 'n lepel nie
1. Re:Shedding some light... by corngrower · 2004-10-28 01:23 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  I suppose we shouldn't condemn you too much for making light of the subject.
2. Re:Shedding some light... by Darth23 · 2004-10-28 02:15 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  That wasn't exactly a glowing endorsement.
  
  --
  -------- In Soviet Russia, "Soviet Russia" sigs hate Slashdot.
Re:Can somebody explain ... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-27 22:05 · Score: 1, Funny

It would be cool to have a PC that glows in the dark...
Great commercial slogan potential! by GozzoMan · 2004-10-27 22:10 · Score: 3, Funny

"FASTER THAN LIGHT COMPUTING!" ... uh, "fast-AS-light" in fact. damn, never mind.
Many Hands... by zenmojodaddy · 2004-10-27 22:20 · Score: 3, Funny

... make light work.
1. Re:Many Hands... by corngrower · 2004-10-28 01:34 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Quite right, it wasn't really Tom Edison that invented the light bulb, it was his assistant, a native american, Many Hands.
It took a team of 17 people, bravo all... by joelethan · 2004-10-27 22:37 · Score: 4, Funny

Because as we all know:
"Many hands make light work!"
The Cornell Nanophotonics Team
/JE
ahhh.. by mr_snarf · 2004-10-27 22:47 · Score: 1, Funny

The approach developed confines the beam to be switched in a circular resonator, greatly reducing the footprint required on the chip and allowing a very small change in refractive index to shift the material from transparent to opaque
Ahh, they finally saw the light.

--
printf("Goodbye cruel world!\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b");
Functional casemods? by Spykk · 2004-10-27 22:52 · Score: 2, Funny

Finally, a use for all those colorful tubes of light.
Christmas lights? by Danathar · 2004-10-27 23:26 · Score: 2, Funny

Ooooo.....This should make my Christmas tree which uses fiber optics MUCH more interesting!
My God by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-28 00:30 · Score: 1, Funny

Imagine a beo... never mind
1. Re:My God by TeknoHog · 2004-10-28 01:50 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  "My God, it's full of stars!"
  "Nope, that's just a Beowulf cluster of optical Linux boxen. Nothing to worry about."
  
  --
  Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.