Scientists develop single-chip optical circuit for quantum and AI applications

Melbourne (ANTARA) – Researchers have developed a nanoscale optical circuit that can generate, direct, and read light-based information within a single chip, advancing next-generation quantum and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The new technology, led by Australia’s Monash University, combines cutting-edge materials and nanotechnology to address longstanding challenges in ‘valleytronics’ — a field for faster, more energy-efficient quantum computing and technology — according to the university’s statement released on Tuesday, 26 May. ‘For the first time, the team has demonstrated a fully integrated system that can generate specific light signals, guide them with precise direction, and convert them into electrical signals — all within a compact chip-based device,’ the statement said. Researchers said the circuit uses ultrathin materials, just a few atoms thick, combined with specially designed nanostructures to control light at extremely small scales. Unlike many quantum systems requiring extreme cooling, this system operates at room temperature, enhancing its practical potential. ‘Until now, we could generate or detect these signals, but not do all of it in one integrated device,’ said Li Chi, lead author of the study published in Nature Photonics, collaborating with researchers from Australia, China, Singapore, Germany, and Japan. ‘This research paves the way for compact, programmable photonic devices, enabling faster, more energy-efficient computing and new approaches to secure communication and data processing,’ said Ren Haoran, senior author and leader of Monash’s NanoMeta Group. ‘This is a crucial step towards scalable chip-based technologies that use light instead of electricity to process information,’ Ren added.