Danish researchers develop nanolaser to potentially halve computing energy use

New nanolaser technology could reduce future computing energy use by up to 50% through light-based data transmission.

Danish researchers from the Technical University of Denmark created a nanolaser using a semiconductor membrane. This device enables light-based data transmission within computer chips, replacing electrical signals. The technology could reduce energy consumption by up to 50% in future computing systems, operating at room temperature with minimal power requirements. Researchers estimate thousands of such nanolasers could be integrated onto a single microchip, targeting applications in computing, data centers, smartphones, and medical sensors. The breakthrough was published in *Science Advances* with DOI 10.1126/sciadv.adx3865.

The nanolaser uses a nanocavity structure to concentrate light in an exceptionally small space, enabling efficient light-based communication. This approach addresses a key energy drain in current computing systems. For the technology to reach widespread use, researchers estimate remaining technical challenges—such as integrating light-based communication with existing hardware—could be resolved within 5-10 years.

This advancement moves toward cheaper computing by reducing energy costs for data transmission. Lower energy demands could eventually make cloud services and digital tools more accessible, particularly in resource-constrained settings. However, the 50% energy reduction applies only to future systems after integration steps, not current implementations. The technology’s impact on real-world abundance depends on overcoming the additional engineering hurdles required to deploy light-based communication beyond the nanolaser itself.

Source: ScienceDaily