Hector De Los Santos, proud community researcher. Through his research, he’s partnered with University of South Carolina, Ohio State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, all while advancing plasmon computing at a rapid pace. He originally introduced the idea back in 2010. Since then, he’s been working on this for more than 10 years on a device that showcases the promise of plasmonic based logic. In 2024, De Los Santos was able to make an effective Y-junction device. This striking advance proved for the first time that you could manipulate one plasmon with another, a huge victory for this nascent field of tech.
The device, only about five square microns in size, is a prime example of this beautiful interaction between plasmons. To further this work, De Los Santos hopes to create a complete device that could use two controls to direct plasmons in a precise way. His work addresses a critical challenge in the field of computing: how to enhance the performance of logic devices while adhering to established fabrication techniques used for Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology.
The Concept of Plasmon Computing
De Los Santos originally imagined the idea of plasmon computing back in 2009. He was motivated by the path of CMOS logic going down fast with a need for better performance in logic devices. The idea is based on using plasmons—quantum mechanical waves that travel along the surface of metals—as vehicles of information.
“I got the idea of plasmon computing around 2009, upon observing the direction in which the field of CMOS logic was going.” – Hector De Los Santos
“The different concepts that are brought together in this device are not normally employed by the dominant technology, and it is really interdisciplinary in nature.” – Hector De Los Santos
De Los Santos knows it can be hard for everyone to wrap their minds around all of this new technology. Its radical divergence from the norm poses major hurdles for those paradigms. He acknowledges that the expertise needed to grasp plasmon computing isn’t often possessed by one person.
The Breakthrough Device
This new Y-junction device created by De Los Santos is an exciting step forward for plasmon computing. To move them, he uses a direct current (DC) voltage applied between the metal of the Y-junction and the ground plane below. This process creates a quiescent electron sea, a static world of electrons. This arrangement enables the steering of one plasmon by another, demonstrating the opportunity for super high-speed information transfer.
“It takes very, very low energy to create this kind of disturbance.” – Hector De Los Santos
The energy needed to excite a plasmon is tiny, coming in at the order of attoJoules or less. This unique property enables plasmons to propagate in unison with the electromagnetic wave that generates them. This is achieved because they sustain speeds that approach the speed of light within the medium.
“So just intrinsically, the way of operation is extremely fast and extremely low power compared to current technology.” – Hector De Los Santos
Even with these benefits, De Los Santos admits that if you try to launch a plasmon on your own, it will quickly dissipate. The way his clever lab is arranged, plasmons are being continually refreshed as the electromagnetic field moves outward. That regeneration makes it possible for plasmons to live longer and be used more efficiently.
Future Directions in Plasmon Computing
For the future, De Los Santos hopes to show off and build a final product with two regulators. This newest step will allow more research to be done into what plasmon computing can do and where it might be most beneficial.
“The next step would be to demonstrate and fabricate the full device, which would have the two controls.” – Hector De Los Santos
Once De Los Santos completes the full device, he plans to string together several of the devices. This will produce a basic full adder, one of the most basic units of computing logic. This rapid advancement demonstrates not only his personal dedication to moving the field forward, but to tackle the inevitable challenges that come with plasmon-based technologies.
“And after that gets done, the next step is concatenating them to create a full adder, because that is the fundamental computing logic component.” – Hector De Los Santos
Beyond building the technology, De Los Santos insists on making it more accessible and open sourcing it, and securing sponsorship for his work. He thinks that creating mutual appreciation and excitement among prospective partners and funders will be key to moving plasmon computing forward.
“Getting people to sponsor the work, and to understand it is a challenge, not really the implementation.” – Hector De Los Santos