Researchers at the University of Arizona have achieved a computing milestone called the quantum advantage. To do this, they created the world’s first peer-reviewed phototransistor operating at petahertz-speed that functions reliably under normal conditions. Mohammed Hassan, an associate professor of physics and optical sciences, is the creative force behind this novel endeavor. This remarkable technology will dramatically change the data transmission and processing speeds.
Hassan’s team worked on this study with their colleagues Nikolay Golubev, Mohamed Sennary, Jalil Shah and Mingrui Yuan. Collaboratively they advanced their innovation based on a commercially available graphene phototransistor. Instead, the researchers used an ultra-fast laser that turns on and off at a record pace of 638 attoseconds. This new-found capacity allows them to approach data at a greater speed than ever before. In his remarks, Hassan referred to their creation as “the world’s fastest petahertz quantum transistor,” underscoring its potential to outpace existing computing technologies.
A new study released in Nature Communications makes clear just how important this development is. The researchers explain their most novel and significant findings in the joint publication. You can read the full study at DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-59675-5. This phototransistor, in particular, could allow for processing speeds greater than one petahertz, far exceeding the performance of today’s computer chips by more than 1,000 times.
Most notably, Hassan led development of the world’s fastest electron microscope. Now, he’s working to accelerate light-based computer technology. He believes that the capability to transmit data at petahertz speeds will completely change computing in ways we can’t imagine today. He helped us picture that by starting with the fact that one attosecond is one quintillionth of a second. This should really highlight the incredible pace at which this technology moves.
The potential consequences of using these newly accessible ultrafast pulses of light are huge. If harnessed effectively, this technology could enable computers to function at speeds a million times faster than today’s best processors. Researchers are still investigating all the possible uses for their new LED-inspired phototransistor. They hope it will lead to major breakthroughs in areas that depend on lightning-fast data analysis.