Optics stepping on copper conductors
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reported on their new achievement, which in the future could have a significant impact on the development of high-performance processors, communications equipment and the computer industry as a whole.
The problem of high heat dissipation of modern copper conductors in the CPU, as well as the entire approaching performance threshold, which cannot be physically overcome due to the limitations of metal ways to transfer information bits, has long been occupied by the minds of engineers around the world. One of the solutions is to replace the current-carrying tracks first, and in the future other parts of the processors, with optical devices.
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Converters of a laser signal into electrical pulses have been used in communications for a long time and successfully, however their miniaturization rested on the fundamental complexity of data transmission through microscopic optical fibers. The light in them tends to acquire unpredictable polarization, with the result that different signals are very difficult to reconcile with each other.
Yes, and the equipment serving the large information channels must, due to the same problems, have very high power to compensate for the losses along the way.
Only at MIT have so far been able to offer a device for the production of which does not require retrofitting of fine electronics factories. New technology for the production of opto-electrical chips (Optics-On-A-Chip) can be implemented on almost the same equipment, which is now used by their usual counterparts. Today, this is the most promising solution that can be launched in the series in the coming years.
via AP
The problem of high heat dissipation of modern copper conductors in the CPU, as well as the entire approaching performance threshold, which cannot be physically overcome due to the limitations of metal ways to transfer information bits, has long been occupied by the minds of engineers around the world. One of the solutions is to replace the current-carrying tracks first, and in the future other parts of the processors, with optical devices.
')
Converters of a laser signal into electrical pulses have been used in communications for a long time and successfully, however their miniaturization rested on the fundamental complexity of data transmission through microscopic optical fibers. The light in them tends to acquire unpredictable polarization, with the result that different signals are very difficult to reconcile with each other.
Yes, and the equipment serving the large information channels must, due to the same problems, have very high power to compensate for the losses along the way.
Only at MIT have so far been able to offer a device for the production of which does not require retrofitting of fine electronics factories. New technology for the production of opto-electrical chips (Optics-On-A-Chip) can be implemented on almost the same equipment, which is now used by their usual counterparts. Today, this is the most promising solution that can be launched in the series in the coming years.
via AP
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/3274/
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