acm-header
Sign In

Communications of the ACM

ACM TechNews

Mining Hardware Helps Scientists Gain Insight Into Silicon Nanoparticles


View as: Print Mobile App Share:
Silicon nanoparticles.

Researchers in Russia and France teamed up to develop the first three-dimensional dynamic model of an interaction between light and silicon nanoparticles.

Credit: IMFO.News

Researchers at ITMO University in Russia worked with colleagues at Jean Monnet University in France to develop the first three-dimensional dynamic model of an interaction between light and silicon nanoparticles.

The team used a supercomputer with graphic accelerators for the calculations.

Results showed that when exposed to short, intense laser pulses, silicon particles temporarily lose their symmetry and their optical properties become strongly heterogeneous.

Such a change in properties depends on particle size; therefore it can be used to control light at nanoscale and in ultrafast information processing devices.

The long-term goal of studying silicon nanoparticles is to create ultrafast, compact optical signal modulators, which can serve as a basis for computers of the future. However, this technology will become feasible only through understanding how nanoparticles interact with light.

Devices based on these nanoparticles may become basic elements of optical computers, just as transistors are basic elements of electronics today. Such devices would make it possible to distribute and redirect or branch the light signal.

From ITMO.News
View Full Article

 

Abstracts Copyright © 2018 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA


 

No entries found

Sign In for Full Access
» Forgot Password? » Create an ACM Web Account