Recent advancements in terahertz technology have the potential to greatly improve data center efficiency in a big way. Innovators such as AttoTude, Point2, and Credo are paving the way for these innovations. They are using frequencies in the terahertz regime, which stretches from 300 to 3,000 GHz. This advanced photonics technology increases data transmission speeds and minimizes energy loss over distance. This technology really has the potential to transform how we operate data centers.
AttoTude has produced several other innovative components. These include a miniaturized digital data chip, a terahertz-signal generator, and a THz mixer that modulates the ternary (three-state) data onto the terahertz signal. On top of that, the company has developed multiple generations of waveguides that can realize these innovations. Point2 and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have used 28-nanometer CMOS technology, which has been widely available since 2010. This groundbreaking development exponentially increases the amount of data one can transmit.
These innovations are opening up a robust new world for data centers. AttoTude’s and Point2’s technologies are the perfect complement. This unique feature allows long spans of 10 to 20 meters, all the while ensuring very high signal integrity. Credo has taken great strides with its AEC (Active Electrical Cable). This latest Matrix cable is capable of providing an astounding 800 Gb/s speeds at lengths of up to 7 meters. Read this exclusive article to find out what really lies beneath these technological advancements and what it means for the technology eco-system.
Innovations in Terahertz Technology
AttoTude’s technology suite includes a first-of-its-kind digital component, terahertz-frequency generator and mixer finely tuned to work harmoniously together. This compact and fully integrated system rapidly encodes data onto the terahertz signal. It represents a huge technological leap toward widely adopted high-speed data communications.
Furthermore, AttoTude’s waveguides demonstrate impressive capabilities. They are capable of sending data over ranges of up to 20 meters. This is a huge improvement compared to old copper wiring. In recent demonstrations, AttoTude managed to track down an astonishing 4-meter long transmission at 970 GHz. This innovation exemplifies what is possible with high-frequency data transfer in the real world.
The importance of these achievements is hard to understate. The need for more and faster bandwidth keeps increasing at an explosive rate. The terahertz frequency range provides a more holistic and viable approach to filling these crucial gaps.
The Role of CMOS Technology
Point2 works with partners including KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology). They rely on 28-nanometer CMOS technology, a stable, time-tested technology that has already graced our foundries for more than a decade. This innovative fabric turning chips enables the fabric to support various capabilities, including high-speed data transmission.
Point2 expects to start chip production targeted at a multimode 1.6-terabits-per-second cable that would use eight ultra-slim polymer waveguides. Each waveguide can carry up to 448 gigabits per second using two different frequencies: 90 gigahertz and 225 GHz. If successful, this innovation will hugely bolster the efficiency and effectiveness of America’s data centers. It will make a huge difference in their ability to go deep with bandwidth.
By pairing CMOS technology’s advantages along with compact terahertz systems, these companies are helping to lead the way in new-generation data transmission solutions. Their goal is to provide reliable, code-compliant, energy-efficient solutions to costly copper electrical wire. This advancement allows much faster and more efficient transfers of data across large, complex networks.
Future Applications and Industry Impact
The near-term use cases for these developments are extremely exciting. The first use of Active Electrical Cables (AECs) is likely to link individual GPUs directly to network switches, enhancing overall system performance. When data can quickly and easily move wherever it’s needed, data centers can handle exponentially bigger workloads. This capacity allows for performance to stay high even when demands increase.
This is because industry leaders see the value of moving from optical to electronic solutions across a variety of applications. Dave Welch notes, “Customers love fiber. What they hate is the photonics.” He expresses that electronics are simply more reliable compared to optics. This is a powerful indication that changing the paradigm would lay the groundwork for much smarter, better, future investments.
Don Barnetson adds another layer to this discussion by stating, “You start with passive copper, and you do everything you can to run in passive copper as long as you can.” This viewpoint reveals our ongoing reliance on legacy technologies. Along the way, it looks for the most promising new alternatives by innovative companies such as AttoTude and Point2.
As you can see, the landscape of data centers is changing rapidly. How those technologies are integrated in the real world will be a defining factor in how they operate in the future.