What Are Petahertz?! Arizona Tech Pushing Computers Whopping ‘1,000x Faster!’

Computers have come a long way since the first programmable, electronic computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), debuted in 1945. In fewer than 100 years, we've made giant leaps in the world of computing.

ENIAC was a hulking, multi-room machine that had less computing power than our smart watches do today. Far less.

It's been theorized that computing power would eventually top out, but if scientists at the University of Arizona have anything to say about it, that day isn't coming anytime soon.

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What is 'Moore's Law' and How Does it Apply to Computer Technology?

Moore's Law is a trend proposed by Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel. In 1965, he predicted that transistor density would continue to increase rapidly, with the number of integrated circuits doubling approximately every two years.

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This essentially boils down to exponential growth in computer power. Computer memory and microprocessors continue to advance rapidly; however, progress began to slow around 2010 due to technical limitations with semiconductors.

To overcome computing limitations, a new, groundbreaking technology is being developed right here in Arizona.

What Does 'Petahertz" Mean?

Scientists have been searching for ways to overcome the restrictions of current computing technology. Experts are exploring quantum computing, advanced design for components, and other 'out of the box' ways to escape the limits of our current technical boundaries.

Scientists at the University of Arizona have developed something that could revolutionize computing. They're collaborating with international partners and announced they've developed a petahertz-speed phototransistor.

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According to Science Daily, this remarkable technology could revolutionize computing speeds, making them more than 1,000 times faster than the advanced processors currently available.

The new technology uses "ultrafast pulses of light [that] could operate computers at speeds a million times faster than today's best processors".

How Petahertz Technology Works

• The technology harnesses ultrafast pulses of light to control electron movement in graphene, a material just one atom thick.
• It leverages a phenomenon called quantum tunneling, where electrons bypass barriers almost instantaneously.
• By firing laser pulses lasting less than a trillionth of a second, the team observed electrons moving in real time, leading to the creation of the world’s fastest quantum transistor.

The scientists at the U of A believe this breakthrough has the potential to transform computing power, making it possible to process data at previously unimaginable speeds. It could have applications in artificial intelligence, chemistry, space exploration, and healthcare.

Most scientific discoveries, like this one, require controlled laboratory environments; however, this transistor is different. It can function under everyday conditions, which means it has a future in everyday situations.

When is Petahertz Technology Coming to the Mainstream?

One of the researchers said that while this is a "huge leap forward...the speed of hardware development does not move as quickly."

The technology isn't ready for primetime just yet. The researchers are working with Tech Launch Arizona to patent and commercialize the tech. Experts predict that early prototypes might be tested as early as the next 5 to 10 years.

This Arizona-based development will be a game-changer for computing and technology, and it could inform what the next 20 years of computing will look like.

Sources: Wikipedia | University of Arizona | Science Daily | Optics.org | Nature.com