Russian physicists from ITMO, together with foreign colleagues, have created a new material for optical chips capable of controlling light signals without the use of electronics. The innovative solution is based on the properties of perovskites — man-made materials that actively interact with light.
Scientists have discovered unique nonlinear properties of waveguides (channels that define the direction of light) made of perovskites. This discovery paves the way for creating ultrafast optical chips, where light signals will be controlled by light itself.
The principle of operation of the new material is based on the use of so-called "liquid light" — a special state in which light particles can interact with each other. Scientists have created a special platform made of perovskite with a thickness of about 100 nanometers, along which light pulses propagate like cars on a road.
We have for the first time investigated how powerful, but short pulses of light propagate in perovskite waveguides and showed that this material has strong nonlinear properties. This opens the way to creating ultrafast optical chips, where it will be possible to control light with light — without electronics.
A special feature of the new material is that it can change its properties under the influence of light pulses of different power. Weak signals have practically no effect on the material, while powerful pulses can change its characteristics.
We have created a waveguide — a special platform made of perovskite with a thickness of about 100 nm. Light pulses run along it like cars on a street. In order for photons to "enter" and "exit" the "street", we formed input and output elements for them — "exits" from the road. The peculiarity is that our "street" is nonlinear — it changes under the influence of the pulses themselves.
The new development will make it possible to create photonic computers with a simplified design and significantly more productive. This will be possible due to the abandonment of control electronics in favor of fully optical control circuits.
All processes work at room temperature, which makes the technology suitable for practical use. Scientists from Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and Great Britain continue to work on improving the material and expanding its functionality.
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