{"id":22266,"date":"2017-10-04T11:19:59","date_gmt":"2017-10-04T15:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=22266"},"modified":"2021-05-21T12:03:50","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T16:03:50","slug":"university-of-sydney-microchip-light-sound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/university-of-sydney-microchip-light-sound\/","title":{"rendered":"A Symphony in Your Computer? University of Sydney Researchers Develop First Microchip That Stores Light As Sound"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientists from The University of Sydney in Australia have created the <\/span>world\u2019s first hybrid microchip<\/span><\/a> capable of transferring light waves into sound waves. Data, in the form of light waves, enter the chip via fiber optic cables, is transmitted across the cable along a thin wire in the form of acoustic waves, and is then sent out again in light wave form.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"microchip\"<\/p>\n

In terms of the transmission of data, most of us consider faster to be better — and nothing is faster than light. However, in some circumstances, such as telecommunication and cloud computing centers, there is such a thing as too fast when it comes to data.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, when transmitting data over long distances, speed is of the essence. However, when it comes to processing information, data traveling in the form of light waves is moving too quickly for computers to analyze and respond to.<\/span><\/p>\n

To be useful, data on a chip need to be slowed down.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The traditional method for slowing down data to speeds manageable for computers is to convert the light waves into electromagnetic waves, which move substantially slower. However, this generates a substantial amount of heat and requires a lot of electrical power. <\/span><\/p>\n

The University of Sydney researchers bypass this problem by converting light waves into sound waves, as opposed to electromagnetic waves. <\/span><\/p>\n

Basically, the chip they developed allows computers to process data in acoustic form rather than electronic form. In a press release, <\/span>Dr. Birgit Stiller<\/span><\/a>, a lead author and supervisor of this project, said that the difference between the data in fiber optic and acoustic form is \u201clike the difference between thunder and lightning.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as Stiller explained to The University Network (TUN), \u201cthe speed of light can… become a nuisance in case of synchronization and therefore an optical solution for a short-term \u2018parking\u2019 (which is a form of memory) is needed.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The researchers used a different method to achieve that. \u201cOur approach is a solution for a light memory that is entirely controlled by light pulses,\u201d she said. \u201cTherefore, all advantages of the photonics are preserved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n