Russian and Chinese scientists develop ultrafast laser for AI chips

Scientists from HSE University in St. Petersburg, in collaboration with researchers from the Shandong Academy of Sciences in China, have developed an ultrafast laser designed for use in photonic chips tailored for artificial intelligence applications, achieving a response speed of 4.15 gigahertz.

The university explained that, for the first time, the research team directly measured the maximum response speed of this type of micro-laser, marking a technological breakthrough in the field of photonic circuits, which use light to transmit and process signals instead of traditional electrical signals.

The researchers added that they adopted a standardized method to measure the laser’s performance when operated by light or electric current, enabling highly accurate determination of its response speed. Tests showed the highest recorded speed reached 4.15 gigahertz.

New horizons for AI development

The team indicated that these results could help design faster photonic chips for data centers and neural networks, with the potential to integrate multiple computing systems on a single chip and accelerate data transfer between components in the future.

They also noted that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence systems is driving demand for greater computing power and higher data transfer speeds, making integrated photonic circuits one of the most promising solutions to meet these technical requirements.