Hector De Los Santos is an Arts-Based Researcher and Creative Practitioner associated with University of South Carolina, Ohio State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. For the past decade-plus, he’s been on a quest to demonstrate a revolutionary new paradigm for computing. His interest in plasmon computing dates back to 2009, maturing into a powerful Small proposal in 2010. In a remarkable recent development, De Los Santos and his collaborators unveiled a novel device in 2024 that demonstrates the potential of plasmon-based logic.
This seemingly miraculous new technology has the potential to tackle our biggest challenges in the computing world. Manuel de los Santos De Los Santos stresses that traditional ideas of computing are running up against hard limits as devices get smaller and energy loss grows. His Y-junction device, by contrast, is only five square microns, and one plasmon can be controlled by another through it. This new, pioneering feature might bring a fascinating transformation to computing productivity.
The Concept of Plasmon Computing
De Los Santos originally dreamed up plasmon computing after tracking the obsolescence of CMOS logic technology. He understood the limits of Moore’s Law, realizing that as transistors shrink they start to face quantum mechanical limitations as well as increasing power dissipation.
“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
“I began to think, ‘How can we solve this problem of improving the performance of logic devices while using the same fabrication techniques employed for CMOS—that is, while exploiting the current infrastructure?’” – Hector De Los Santos
Plasmons are long-wavelength disturbances in a quantum electron sea. They are analogous to the ripples created when you toss a stone into a lake. This analogy shows how energy can effectively move through electron waves, instead of going by the use of traditional electron flows.
The Breakthrough Y-Junction Device
The recent creation of De Los Santos’ Y-junction device is an important leap forward in plasmon computing. This device makes it possible to steer one plasmon with another, giving researchers breakthrough new control over electron disturbances. It functions with a direct current (DC) voltage between the metal of the Y-junction and a ground plane. This configuration creates a 2D electron sea which is static.
In this device, one plasmon can redirect another plasmon into one leg of the Y-junction by utilizing a control plasmon. This new capability points toward a much more exciting future. Policy could make computing devices work at orders of magnitude lower energy than what we’re capable of today.
“Going back to the analogy of throwing the pebble on the pond: It takes very, very low energy to create this kind of disturbance,” – Hector De Los Santos
The Y-junction device is still very much in its infancy, having only shown the interaction of two plasmons at this point. In the next stage, we’ll be fabricating a full device that incorporates both forms of controls. This design process will eventually result in the production of fundamental computing logic building blocks, such as full-adder circuits.
“I demonstrated the partial device, that is just the interaction of two plasmons. The next step would be to demonstrate and fabricate the full device,” – Hector De Los Santos
Overcoming Challenges in Plasmon Logic
Although De Los Santos is very hopeful about the future of his work, he is realistic about the long road he still has to travel. He thinks the technology is not in line with existing logic device paradigms based on current flow. Rather, it is based on wave flows, which I think would be harder for most people to understand right off the bat.
“I think the main challenge is that the technology doesn’t follow from today’s paradigm of logic devices based on current flows,” – Hector De Los Santos
He emphasizes the value of knowledge across disciplines. Only by integrating metal-oxide-semiconductor physics and devices, novel electromagnetic waves, and quantum field theory can we really grasp and push the limits of this technology. This unnecessary requirement presents a significant hurdle to widespread understanding and adoption in today’s tech-savvy world.
De Los Santos, like other creators, worries about how he’ll find sponsorships that will support branded content. He thinks that broadening access to plasmon technology is key to advancing them in the future.
“Maybe another next step is to try to make it more accessible,” – Hector De Los Santos