There has been considerable excitement around a data transfer breakthrough that Intel announced this week. In essence, Intel has developed a technology that can transfer data using light at 50Gbps. This research prototype represents the world’s first silicon-based optical data connection with integrated lasers. How fast is 50Gbps? Well, as The Engineer reported it: This is the equivalent of transmitting an entire HD movie in a second. And the researchers are already talking about terabit speeds... on the horizon. Intel says the achievement is another step toward replacing copper connections, which are lossy, with extremely thin and light optical fibres that can transfer much more data over longer distances. This has the potential to radically change the way computers of the future are designed and alter the way the data centres are designed. "It's about bringing silicon manufacturing to optical communications, bringing Moore's Law to high-bandwidth communications for every computing platform, and revolutionising applications in the future", said Dr Mario Paniccia, Intel fellow and director of Intel's Photonics Technology lab. Understandably there's been a lot of excitement. For example, on Twitter: Very excited by Intel's steady progress on photonics - could really change everything -
RupertG - Just read an article on #TheRegister about Intel's work with silicon photonics, their test had 10Gbps on a few mm thick wire! Awesome! -J_Deso: - Intel says it's cracked end to end silicon photonics - Data flies around at 50Gbps
(statistics) #chips - thetecheye - Inside Intel's 50Gbps silicon optics: Intel has brought together six years of silicon photonics research into two ...
ZDNetUK_News http://bit.ly/c4uwwh - Intel's silicon photonics to revolutionise comms
http://bit.ly/9Kss0R - SteveNico: So why are people so excited? While still a "concept vehicle" this potentially points the way to driving Moore's Law on to the next generation of silicon; overcoming the problem of leakage that occurs with copper connections.
"While wired connections will always have a prominent role within and between computing devices, certain systems and applications will soon demand interconnects that support greater bandwidth across longer distances," the researches explained.
In essence, a leap forward in data centre, business and consumer applications.
"The system and application possibilities of silicon-based laser interconnects are nothing less than transformational," said the researchers.
If you want to dive more deeply on this, I can recommend the white paper.