https://scitechdaily.com/silicon-photonics-breakthrough-the-last-missing-piece-now-a-reality/
International research team unveils the first electrically
pumped continuous-wave semiconductor laser designed for
seamless integration with silicon.
Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ), the University
of Stuttgart, the Leibniz Institute for High Performance
Microelectronics (IHP), and their French partner CEA-Leti
have successfully developed the first electrically pumped
continuous-wave semiconductor laser made entirely from
group IV elements, commonly referred to as the “silicon
group” in the periodic table.
This innovative laser is constructed from stacked ultrathin
layers of silicon-germanium-tin and germanium-tin. Remarkably,
it is the first laser of its type to be directly grown on a
silicon wafer, paving the way for advancements in on-chip
integrated photonics.
. . .
We're used to LEDs and 'laser diodes' - but the low
level construction is different from what's found on
the typical silicon CPU chip. Short of kinda literally
gluing discrete lasers to the cpu ......
As I recall, Bill Gates had people working on this
at least a decade ago but they didn't have much luck.
Now it appears that a fully-compatible structure for
on-chip lasers has been found. This could greatly
speed inter/extra-CPU data comms. Today we see vast
numbers of NVidia chips being used mostly for "AI"
and supercomputer apps, but they can only talk to
each other kinda indirectly, kinda slow. Strong
photon interconnects however ... might add a lot
more smart to these smart chips.
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