IT abroad: Optical chipset ready to transfer one terabit of data per second invented

IBM researchers have invented a prototype optical chip that can transfer a terabit of data per second, using an innovative design requiring 48 tiny holes drilled into a standard CMOS-chip, facilitating the movement of light. Much faster and more power-efficient than today's optics, the so-called "Holey Optochip" technology could enhance the power of supercomputers.

Optical chips, which move data with light instead of electrons, are commonly used for interconnects in today's supercomputers. Optical technology is favored over electrical for transmitting high-bandwidth data over longer distances, which is why it's used for telecommunications networks.

IBM predicts that 10 years from now the most powerful supercomputer will widely deploy optical chips, while ten years ago the supercomputer had no optics in it whatsoever.

The newly-built Holey Optochip uses 4.7 watts (like smartphone’s or tablet’s processor) in delivering nearly one trillion bits per second, enough to download 500 HD movies. Original chip dimensions are 5.2 mm by 5.8 mm.

The IBM Holey Optochip has 48 channels, each moving 20 gigabits per second, for a total of 960 gigabits. IBM unveiled the prototype chip at the Optical Fiber Communications Conference which was running March 4th – 8th 2012 in Los Angeles.