Communications of the ACM
Tiny Black Holes Enable a New Type of Photodetector For High-Speed Data
University of California, Davis researchers have developed tiny "black holes" on a silicon wafer that could move more data at lower cost.
Credit: Saif Islam/UC Davis
Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) have developed tiny "black holes" on a silicon wafer that serve as a new type of photodetector and could move more data at lower cost around the world or across a datacenter.
The new detector uses tapered holes in a silicon wafer to divert photons sideways, preserving the speed of thin-layer silicon and the efficiency of a thicker layer.
The experimental photodetector can convert data from optical to electronics at 20 gigabytes per second with a quantum efficiency of 50%, the fastest yet reported for a device of this efficiency.
The researchers started by experimenting with ways to increase the efficiency of silicon by adding tiny pillars and holes to the silicon wafer.
UC Davis professor Saif Islam says the holes-based device could potentially work with a wider range of wavelengths of light than current technology.
From UC Davis News & Information
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