. 24/7 Space News .
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Squeezing light into new miniature devices
by Staff Writers
Seoul, South Korea (SPX) Nov 29, 2016


How does light make it through the device? The video explains it step-by-step. Image courtesy IBS. Watch a video on the research here.

Do you think your computer is fast enough? Think again. The computers of the future could work almost at the speed of light! Nanophotonics, the study of light at the nanometer scale, could indeed bring the speed of our technology to a completely different level.

The Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics (CINAP) within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have developed three key components of a circuit that works with light. Published in Nature Communications, these devices combine the advantages of photonics and electronics on the same platform.

While we are slowing approaching the end point of Moore's Law: a state where we physically cannot shrink the dimension of our transistors much further; the future of big data processing requires high performance computers with higher speed operations. Researchers reckon that if we build computers that process information through light, instead of electrons, computer will be able to work faster.

However, at nanometer dimensions, the wavelength of light is larger than the diameter of the silicon fiber and for this reason some light can be lost. A solution to control the propagation of light in matter can come from surface plasmons.

These are electromagnetic waves that propagate along the surface of some conductive materials like silver, gold, aluminum and copper. Using surface plasmons, optical information can be transmitted nearly at the speed of light and in extremely miniature volumes.

Using surface plasmons in silver nanowires and 2D semiconductors like molybdenum disulphide (MoS2), IBS scientists built three key components for optical communication: optical transistors, optical multiplexers and optical signal detectors.

These devices work thanks to a phenomenon called plasmon-exciton-plasmon interconversion. The graphics describe the details of this process step-by-step.

IBS scientists constructed the optical transistor by interconnecting the silver nanowire to a flake of MoS2. Light shone on the device is converted to surface plasmon, than to exciton, back to surface plasmon and eventually emitted as light with a shorter wavelength compared to the initial input. For example, if the input light is green, the output light can be red.

Wavelength multiplexing devices were realized in a similar way, but instead of having only a flake of MoS2, the researchers used an array of three different 2D semiconductor materials emitting light at different wavelengths. In this structure, for example, a single input light (violet color) generates three output lights (blue, green and red).

The propagating optical signals along the silver nanowire can be also transformed and detected as electrical signals by an optical signal detector.

"The originality of this paper arises from the exciton-plasmon interconversion. We published before the conversion of exciton to plasmon, and from plasmon to exciton using silver nanowire/2D semiconductor hybrids, but this is the first time that we can complete the circle going from plasmons to excitons and back to plasmons. Using this concept, we created optical transistors and multiplexors," explains professor Hyun Seok Lee, first author of this study.


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Institute for Basic Science
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Silicon nanoantennas turn light around
Moscow, Russia (SPX) Nov 21, 2016
A team of physicists from ITMO University, MIPT, and The University of Texas at Austin have developed an unconventional nanoantenna that scatters light in a particular direction depending on the intensity of incident radiation. The research findings will help with the development of flexible optical information processing in telecommunication systems. Photons--the carriers of electromagnet ... read more


STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Embry-Riddle Students Join Project PoSSUM to Test Prototype Spacesuits in Zero-G

NASA on the hunt for space poop geniuses

Orion Crew Module Adapter Lifted in Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center

Expandable Habitat Reveals Important Early Performance Data

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Ariane 5's impressive 75 in-a-row launch record

Vega ready for GOKTURK-1A to be encapsulated

Star One D1 arrives for heavy-lift Ariane 5 in Dec with 2 SSL-built satellites

SLS propulsion system goes into Marshall stand ahead of big test series

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Mars Ice Deposit Holds as Much Water as Lake Superior

Computer glitch blamed for European Mars lander crash

ESA's new Mars orbiter prepares for first science

NASA field test focuses on science of lava terrains, like Early Mars

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Material and plant samples retrieved from space experiments

Chinese astronauts return to earth after longest mission

China completes longest manned space mission yet

Chinese astronauts accept 1st earth-space interview

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Vita: next Space Station mission name and logo

Charyk helped chart the course of satellite communications

Intelsat and Intelsat General support hurricane Matthew recovery efforts

Boeing to consolidate defense and space sites

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
For platinum catalysts, tiny squeeze gives big boost in performance

Ames Laboratory scientists create first intermetallic double salt with platinum

Scientists trace 'poisoning' in chemical reactions to the atomic scale

Destruction Junction-What's Your Function?

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Scientists from the IAC discover a nearby 'superearth'

Earth-bound instrument analyzes light from planets circling distant stars

Protoplanetary Discs Being Shaped by Newborn Planets

Scientists unveil latest exoplanet-hunter CHARIS

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
New analysis adds to support for a subsurface ocean on Pluto

Pluto follows its cold, cold heart

New Analysis Supports Subsurface Ocean on Pluto

Mystery solved behind birth of Saturn's rings









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.