Intel embedding lasers into silicon for speedy data

In what's being marked as a breakthrough in the world of "photonics," Intel has managed to squeeze laser beam functionality into silicon-based chips, allowing for high speed data transfer between chips on the cheap. The new technology should be a boon to both high-end computer manufacturers and the fiber-optics industry, allowing for cheaper, smaller and faster optical switching of high volumes of data. Intel managed the feat by bonding some light-emitting indium phosphide to the surface of a regular ol' silicon chip that has been etched with light-directing channels. With billions of lasers in one place, the chips should help with the "last mile" problem of bringing fiber to the home, and resolve most bandwidth bottlenecks inside your computer -- though that type of consumer application could be quite a few years down the road. Commercial versions of the chips are still years away, but we're liking where this is headed.

[OutrightLie @ Sep 18th 2006 1:35PM]

I read about this in PopSci about a year ago. I was really impressed. This is exactly why I buy only Intel chips, they drive the market and develop new technologies instead of sitting back and rushing to develop technologies after a trend is already in place.

[B @ Sep 18th 2006 1:49PM]

A lot of this research at UCSB was also sponsored by DARPA so its not just Intel funding this.

http://www.engineering.ucsb.edu/bowers/

[John Stracke @ Sep 18th 2006 2:27PM]

"This is exactly why I buy only Intel chips, they drive the market and develop new technologies instead of sitting back and rushing to develop technologies after a trend is already in place." -- A trend like, say, 64-bit extensions to IA32?

[Fuzz @ Sep 18th 2006 2:05PM]

Well, its no sharks with laserbeams, but I guess it will have to do. For now.

[John Stracke @ Sep 18th 2006 2:23PM]

Fuzz, if you really want a shark with a laser beam on its head, I'm sure you can find one at Wal-Mart. Next to the Billy Bass section, maybe.

[granny down east @ Sep 18th 2006 2:34PM]

oooh a high class refraction nano-grating.
Ingratiating!

[daddy_fizz @ Sep 18th 2006 2:36PM]

i can hear AMD already...

"I Want those Motherf$cking lasers off those Motherf$cking chips!"

[yubastard @ Sep 19th 2006 4:07AM]

yess! I want that.

Wonder if AMD could work out some hyper-transport for this thing... connecting ATI, AMD and RAM with lasers should do the trick!

[Yubal @ Sep 19th 2006 4:08AM]

sorry, had to register and put password so it remembers me :P

[Sophia @ Oct 25th 2006 6:28PM]

I like your computers. How come I don't see you at City Mill? Sophia Lee.