Ultrafast Optical Detector

#1

Post by JohannMac » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:56 PM UTC

Ultrafast Optical Detector
tdk.com

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#2

Post by JohannMac » Tue, Apr 15, 2025, 1:56 PM UTC

Novel approach to optical detection which is faster than current approaches and can be incorporated on an IC.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#3

Post by mmmBacon » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 4:54 PM UTC

While interesting this approach is not any faster than the Ge based photodiodes that we have currently. State of the art is ~-110GHz in Germanium Si photonics using standard fabs. This is only 50GHz.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#4

Post by davesque » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 6:54 PM UTC

This part struck me:

"boosts data transmission and data processing speed, especially in AI applications"

How is this better for "AI" than it would be for any other general computing task? Looks like the AI-crazed execs had a go at this press release.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#5

Post by momoschili » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 7:35 PM UTC

mmmBacon wrote: post #3

While interesting this approach is not any faster than the Ge based photodiodes that we have currently. State of the art is ~-110GHz in Germanium Si photonics using standard fabs. This is only 50GHz.

A key here for western users is that it does not include Ge, which is notably a material that China has a stranglehold on.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#6

Post by frainfreeze » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 7:52 PM UTC

mmmBacon wrote: post #3

While interesting this approach is not any faster than the Ge based photodiodes that we have currently. State of the art is ~-110GHz in Germanium Si photonics using standard fabs. This is only 50GHz.

Isn't state of the art already in the 300Ghz range?

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#7

Post by momoschili » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 8:17 PM UTC

davesque wrote: post #4

This part struck me: "boosts data transmission and data processing speed, especially in AI applications" How is this better for "AI" than it would be for any other general computing task? Looks like the AI-crazed execs had a go at this press release.

what other general computing task leverages the wide bandwidths that optical transceivers provide as well as AI?

I get that AI washing is annoying, but this seems like such a petty thing to be mad at.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#8

Post by ChrisMarshallNY » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 8:56 PM UTC

davesque wrote: post #4

This part struck me: "boosts data transmission and data processing speed, especially in AI applications" How is this better for "AI" than it would be for any other general computing task? Looks like the AI-crazed execs had a go at this press release.

Probably the case, but I'm not losing sleep over it.

Wasn't that long ago, when I would see the word "blockchain," at least once, in every pitch deck.

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#9

Post by nashashmi » Thu, Apr 17, 2025, 9:00 PM UTC

davesque wrote: post #4

This part struck me: "boosts data transmission and data processing speed, especially in AI applications" How is this better for "AI" than it would be for any other general computing task? Looks like the AI-crazed execs had a go at this press release.

Sometimes EXECS want AI oriented products. So every product development team adds that their product serve AI too. Just to get attention to their product .

Re: Ultrafast Optical Detector

#10

Post by glumreaper » Fri, Apr 18, 2025, 3:42 AM UTC

mmmBacon wrote: post #3

While interesting this approach is not any faster than the Ge based photodiodes that we have currently. State of the art is ~-110GHz in Germanium Si photonics using standard fabs. This is only 50GHz.

I got the impression that "faster" refers to potential bandwidth, as the device responds to shorter wavelengths (300nm to 1.6nm) than other photodetectors.

Shorter wavelengths means higher frequencies, "number go up" = more data per second.

This is press release language though, it could mean anything.