Researchers take aim at terahertz computing

It's not everyday that researchers make some progress towards terahertz computing, but a team from the University of Utah led by Ajay Nahata appear to have done just that, with them announcing that they've "taken a first step to making circuits that can harness or guide terahertz radiation." That, they say, could allow for the development of "superfast circuits, computers and communications," and "in a minimum of 10 years," no less. The key to this latest development, it seems, is the use of some sheets of stainless steel foil perforated with tiny holes, which can be arranged in different patterns to effectively form "wires" to carry the terahertz radiation. In their tests, the researchers were able to do so at a level of 300Ghz (or 0.3 terahertz), although they admit that they still have a long way to go, saying that "all we've done is made the wires" for terahertz circuits, and adding that there still needs to be devices like switches, transistors and modulators developed at terahertz frequencies in order for anything practical to become possible.

[Via TG Daily]

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 16th 2008 2:01PM]

Its all about the bottlenecked bus speeds, baby.

[OneLove @ Apr 16th 2008 2:24PM]

I cant wait for $1000+ motherboards

[Chebwa @ Apr 16th 2008 2:32PM]

"I cant wait for $1000+ motherboards."

By the time this technology is available you'll probably be downloading information directly into your brain tissue. I wouldn't worry about $1,000 motherboards.

[Mr Epic Hero @ Apr 16th 2008 2:02PM]

As long as it can play Crysis.

[Eric @ Apr 16th 2008 2:11PM]

Enough with these over used gamer-trying-to-be-funny statements!!!

[zomg0t @ Apr 16th 2008 2:15PM]

It's actually an over used person-who-has-never-played-the-game-mentioned-trying-to-be-funny statement.

[Bruno @ Apr 16th 2008 3:53PM]

Yes, but can it play Doom?

HA!

Doing it just to be an ass, but yes, this is a very cool prospect. Although I think it's a conspiracy by the sociologist to put more SpyWare on our computers and us not notice that we are being watched. *dons Faraday cage hat*

[bl0nde @ Apr 16th 2008 5:36PM]

Mr Epic Hero? More like Mr Epic Fail.

[andres @ Apr 16th 2008 8:31PM]

here comes the faildozer

[Jordan @ Apr 17th 2008 3:05AM]

Can your brain blend?

[Mr Epic Hero @ Apr 17th 2008 10:16AM]

You see zomg0t, bl0nde, andres, and Jordan? Bandwagons are fun.

Cheers

[Mark @ Apr 16th 2008 2:02PM]

in 10 years eh?

oh the excitement .. I can't wait.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 16th 2008 2:16PM]

@Mark

Of course you can't wait. That's why there's Engadget!

[Karl Hackswell @ Apr 16th 2008 2:21PM]

I think its cool that their modest about it as it deserves a level of modesty, though what they are doing is really cool indeed. Most people would have acted like they split the atom.

[tha-don @ Apr 16th 2008 9:09PM]

i split an atom once

[Glowin Thedark @ Apr 16th 2008 2:27PM]

Terahertz.

Hmmm...

So if you have one of these guys in your airport, you can discard the X-ray machines?

[Nicely Browned @ Apr 16th 2008 2:33PM]

Oh - I see. No, if you have one of these you can get rid of your tanning bed.

[Blake Farrow @ Apr 16th 2008 2:33PM]

Nope. X-rays range from about 30 PHz (Thats P for peta) to 30 Ehz (thats E for exa). These babies are a few orders of magnitude behind, and can't fulfill the same purpose.

Theres all kinds of cool applications for this type of radiation though (it exists between the "photon/light" kind of electromagnetic radiation and the "radio/microwave" kind). Unfortunately, generating the stuff is exceedingly difficult, and controlling it is pretty impressive. Very cutting edge.

[James @ Apr 16th 2008 2:42PM]

"researchers were able to do so at a level of 300Ghz (or 0.3 terahertz)"

I want one of those... now... I'm ok with a 300Ghz puter. Imagine how well Crysis would run on that!

[MARSHAK @ Apr 16th 2008 3:33PM]

@#&% off!

[Barbaric @ Apr 16th 2008 3:00PM]

The tumors will be instant.
And, when its used in a laptop, you'll become as sterile as a safety worker from sector 7G.

[takamaru @ Apr 16th 2008 3:39PM]

I checked with them and, no it won't run Crysis with everything cranked up.
On a real note is anyone really surprised that we could have sub-300Ghz computers in ten years? I think a Thz might be pushing it but, hey I have been wrong before...

[CharlieX @ Apr 16th 2008 3:45PM]

You guys and Crysis... it's like you finger banged some chick once in juior high and won't shut up about it now that your 30.

no. one. cares.

[Katie @ Apr 16th 2008 3:55PM]

That is, without a doubt, the strangest analogy I have ever seen. =)

[rv @ Apr 16th 2008 4:13PM]

1 tb is nice, but how much ram do you need? 500gb?

[Anthony @ Apr 16th 2008 4:55PM]

Jebus! Is that the guy from law & order?

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3165887744/nm0000973

[Shaun @ Apr 16th 2008 11:58PM]

I believe it says on the very first line that his name is NOT Benjamin Bratt.

[skulldriveshaft @ Apr 17th 2008 12:57AM]

I swear that's the guy from Law & Order's illegitimate son.

[[ W ] @ Apr 16th 2008 5:45PM]

Which means that the capacitors connected to the transistors will have to charge/discharge a lot more per second making it consume more power!

But hey, who cares about power! SPEED!!! SPEED!!! YAY!!!

[killeryo2002 @ Apr 17th 2008 1:52AM]

No, no, no.

First off, there will be little to no electronics involved in this type of computing. It's all done with light, which by the way will not cause tumors, as someone said up above. Plus, the light being transferred between LASER diodes will be fully insulated. They would not put a product like that on the market without the proper safety measures.

And with this type of computing, buses will be obsolete because they will no longer be using wires or tracers of a circuit to transfer information. All light, that's it. There will be no such thing as bus speeds anymore.

I'm not trying to run anyone over or anything, but just offering some corrective commentary.

And THz-scale computing is entirely possible within a decade. Many companies are already taking the steps to revoltionize the industry. The government is even involved. A computer with hundreds of cores, all operating with frequencies 150X times today's standards, and all operating at distinct chromatic wavelengths of light, is not too far away. Basically, everyone out there will be able to have a supercomputer the size of a laptop. OLPC, eat your heart out.

[stevie @ Apr 16th 2008 6:19PM]

you can bet yer ass that the windows OS of the time will use up most of that speed on needless background processes :P

[aplen22 @ Apr 17th 2008 4:20AM]

But man will that window switching gimmick be amazing or what!

[YoMomma @ Apr 16th 2008 9:53PM]

just to make sure,
will i be able to play Crysis and Doom?

[Jordan @ Apr 17th 2008 3:10AM]

I played Cyrsis on YoMomma last night.

[Webstyr @ Apr 18th 2008 11:28AM]

FINALLY! A computer that might actually run Windows Vista!