Intel's new hybrid photonic chip shines

The Avalanche Photo Detector speeds data to epic levels.

Intel boffins have come up with a hybrid photonic device which they think will push the transmission of data from 100 megabits per second to 100 gigabytes per second.

According to La Stampa the Avalanche Photo Detector has been tested by Intel and been clocked at speeds of between 10 and 100 gigbytes per second.

As a sideline to the speed, Chipzilla thinks that the chips can be made for a 10th of the cost of the current technology.

Mario Paniccia designed the device for Intel's Laboratory of Photonics Technology in Santa Clara, California. It uses a Silicon photonics which uses Silicon to send and receive optical information between computers and other electronic devices.

Although the Silicon is the bee's knees as far as normal electronics are concerned, it has not been able to be used in photonics because its optical ability was not that hot.

Paniccia's APD is a hybrid system that uses a 30-50 micrometers chip which works like a light detector. It can receive and amplify the weakest signal, gather the light and turn it into electrons.

APD can also amplify the electrons and produce 10 to 100 electrons for each photon reached the detector.

If Intel does get the chip out of the labs and into the shops it could lead to the development of new cables and mean the final death of copper wire.