Optical computing

Research update: Multiple steps toward the ‘quantum singularity’Over three days in December, four research groups announced progress on a quantum-computing proposal made two years ago by MIT researchers.

Riding herd on photonsA new ‘metamaterial’ prevents electromagnetic waves from reflecting backward, pointing the way toward computer chips that move data with light.

Microchips’ optical futureTo keep energy consumption under control, future chips may need to move data using light instead of electricity — and the technical expertise to build them may reside in the United States.

Important step toward computing with lightResearch at MIT produces long-sought component to allow complete optical circuits on silicon chips.

First germanium laserNew results from MIT’s Electronic Materials Research Group bring us closer to computers that use light instead of electricity to move data.