In 1941, the German engineer Konrad Tsuze built the first programmable a computer z3 , which worked with a clock frequency of only 5-10 Hz. Since then, the performance of the chips has grown in accordance with the Law of Moore, reaching the peak in 2005 with a frequency of about 5 GHz. However, progress stopped at this due to physical restrictions on transistors and energy consumption problems.
Now scientists from the California Technological Institute developed an optical computer capable of working at frequencies over 100 GHz. The team, headed by Gordon Lee and the mussel desk, created a device that uses light instead of electricity for calculations, which provides an unprecedented data speed.
The device is based on a recurrent neural network, where the input signal passes through an optical cavity with a return connection, performing linear and nonlinear operations, as well as maintaining data. The key factor was the use of laser impulses to synchronize operations, which allows you to process information with restriction only of the speed of light.
The new technology promises a revolution in areas such as telecommunications, ultra -construction signal processing, precision measurement and high -speed trading. In the future, these systems can find application in autonomous vehicles, generative artificial intelligence and other areas requiring instantaneous data processing.
Researchers note that the transition to integration on chips using thin-film materials, such as Niobat lithium, will make the technology more compact and affordable for mass production.