Caltech's photonic chip achieves 74 femtosecond light steering for ultrafast data

Caltech developed a photonic chip that redirects light beams in 74 femtoseconds (74 quadrillionths of a second) for next-generation data systems.

Caltech created a photonic chip capable of redirecting light beams in 74 femtoseconds—74 quadrillionths of a second—using a nanoscale silicon metasurface with precisely engineered pillars. This device amplifies the optical Kerr effect to steer light by up to 13 degrees within the 74-femtosecond pulse duration. The technology operates without electrical signals, relying solely on light beams to achieve this redirection.

The system’s speed limit is defined by the laser pulse duration used in this implementation (74 femtoseconds), not inherent material properties. Published in Nature Nanotechnology (2026) with the title 'Ultrafast, reconfigurable all-optical beam steering and spatial light modulation,' the research was led by Claudio Hail (now UC Berkeley assistant professor) and co-authored by Lior Michaeli (now Tel Aviv University assistant professor) in Harry Atwater’s lab.

For the CONNECTION sector, this technology could enable next-generation internet infrastructure with lower latency by eliminating electrical signal delays. However, it remains a laboratory prototype with current applications limited to specialized optical systems.

What to watch: Improvements in laser technology may push beyond 74 femtoseconds, but the 2026 publication indicates this is a current implementation stage. Real-world deployment requires scaling beyond the 74-femtosecond pulse constraint described in the research.

Source: ScienceDaily