NEW YORK, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- IBM's invention that slows down light is seen as a step toward some potentially major advances in computers and electronic systems.
IBM announced Thursday that its tiny new silicon device slowed light down to 1/300th of its normal speed, advancing the goal of someday running electronic equipment on light waves rather than electricity.
Light-speed communications is seen as someday greatly improving the performance of electronics and computers in particular; however, the development of the technology has been hampered by the need for small and economically practical components that can exercise tight control over light waves.
The silicon device developed by Big Blue has an adjustable refractive index capable of reaching an extremely high level; the higher the refractive index, the slower the light moves.
Its success proved that a device no larger than a standard semiconductor could indeed send light over a relatively large component with little power output.
