IBM Nanophotonic Switch Promises Faster Energy-Efficient Computing

IBM researchers have created an ultrafast avalanche photodetector that uses light for communication between computer chips, which could be powered by a regular AA battery
Scientists at IBM Research (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) have taken a significant step toward replacing electrical signals that communicate via copper wires between computer chips with silicon circuits that communicate using pulses of light.
The device, called a nanophotonic avalanche photodetector (NAP), is the fastest and smallest switch for directing traffic in on-chip optical communications, ensuring that optical messages are efficiently routed. It could enable breakthroughs in energy-efficient computing with significant implications for the future of electronics.