Petahertz Transistor: U of Arizona Breakthrough
- A team at the University of Arizona, along with international collaborators, has revealed a potential breakthrough in computing.Their work centers on a new petahertz transistor that could lead...
- The research focuses on using ultrafast light pulses to control electrons in graphene, a material one atom thick.By firing laser pulses at graphene for less than a trillionth...
- Mohammed Hassan, an associate professor at the University of Arizona, said this advance could lead to processing speeds in the petahertz range, over 1,000 times faster than today's...
University of Arizona researchers have unveiled a groundbreaking petahertz transistor,poised to revolutionize computing speeds by possibly operating millions of times faster. This new technology leverages ultrafast light pulses to control electrons within graphene, a single-atom-thick material, enabling quantum tunneling. This breakthrough, which functions in ambient conditions, coudl transform various sectors, from artificial intelligence to healthcare. the team, including international collaborators, modified graphene samples, creating a transistor operating at petahertz speeds and opening doors to commercial applications. News Directory 3 follows the latest developments in technological advancements. Discover what’s next as the team works toward commercialization and integration of this cutting-edge invention.
New Petahertz Transistor Could Revolutionize Computing Speeds
A team at the University of Arizona, along with international collaborators, has revealed a potential breakthrough in computing.Their work centers on a new petahertz transistor that could lead to computers operating millions of times faster than current technology.
The research focuses on using ultrafast light pulses to control electrons in graphene, a material one atom thick.By firing laser pulses at graphene for less than a trillionth of a second, electrons can bypass barriers almost instantly, a process called quantum tunneling.
Mohammed Hassan, an associate professor at the University of Arizona, said this advance could lead to processing speeds in the petahertz range, over 1,000 times faster than today’s chips. He believes this leap would transform computing, enabling progress in artificial intelligence, space research, chemistry, and health care.
Hassan, who previously developed the world’s fastest electron microscope, collaborated with researchers from the california Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. Initially, they studied how graphene conducts electricity when exposed to laser light. The team then modified graphene samples and observed a single electron “tunneling” through the material, capturing the event in real time. This led to the creation of what Hassan calls “the world’s fastest petahertz quantum transistor.”
The scientists enhanced a commercially available graphene phototransistor with a silicon layer and exposed it to a laser switching on and off at 638 attoseconds. This resulted in a transistor capable of operating at petahertz speeds.
Unlike many scientific breakthroughs, this new transistor functions in everyday conditions, opening the door for commercial use and integration into future electronic devices. This petahertz transistor represents a significant advancement in computing technology.
What’s next
Hassan and his team are working with Tech Launch Arizona to patent and commercialize their invention. Their next goal is to develop a version of the transistor that operates using standard, commercially available lasers, making the technology more accessible to industry partners.