New Research Shows How Glass Helps In Using Light For Data Transfer To Build Faster Computers

In a joint research work done by University of Surrey, University of Southampton and University of Cambridge, it has come to the light that our scientist might be able to build computers with faster processing speeds in the near future. Using a material made from glass, the results of the study showed that it was possible to manipulate the electronics properties of amorphous chalcogenides, an important ingredient used in data transfer technologies widely used in CDs and DVDs. The material used light to accommodate several computing functions into one all-optical system using a technique known as 'ion doping'. This means we are able to harness the power & speed of light in out information exchange between computers.

Unlike the existing computer systems, which use electrons to transfer data are the main culprits for slowing down the entire processing speed. We all know how optical fibres are used to send information at the speed of light (in fraction of seconds across the world). The problem occurs when the data reaches the destination computer where it has to be converted into electrical signals for it to process.


With the use of this new technology, the scientists hope to avoid the slowdown in information transfer and processing. by making the computers able to process optical data. Their main challenge now lies in finding one material that can process & control light to carry data around our computer. With their recent research work, the research team has shown how glass, one of the most widely available substances, can be used to create pn-junction devices, which are nothing but the elementary "building blocks" of most semiconductor electronic devices such as diodes, transistors, LEDs or integrated circuits.

In our race to build the faster (and thus better) machines of the future, such research work is proving to be significant in terms of the foundation necessary to produce the next-gen processors. The research team believes that their technology will be ready to be implemented into computers within a decade's time. We may also pretty soon see the use of glass in developing the new computer memory technology (also known as CRAM).

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