A new, revolutionary innovation in data transmission has arrived, offering an unprecedented boost to efficiency and performance for data centers. AttoTude and Point2 Technology have joined forces to develop flow sensing systems that go beyond the ordinary. They use terahertz frequencies, typically ranging from 300 GHz up to 3,000 GHz. This move from traditional copper and optical cables to brand new terahertz technology is revolutionary. If successful, it could revolutionize the future of high-speed data transfer.
Well, co-founders of AttoTude, Dave Welch, and Point2 Technology, David Kuo, have partnered recently to develop unique dynamics. Their joint research tackles the increasing higher education community need for bandwidth in today’s computing. Their systems are filled with cutting edge components. Examples include digital front-ends for GPGPUs, tunable terahertz-frequency generators, and modulators that efficiently encode data onto terahertz carriers. This technology change increases available data transfer speeds, while significantly reducing both power consumption and cost.
The Mechanics of Terahertz Technology
At the heart of this innovation is Point2 Technology’s e-Tube cable, eight thin polymer waveguides wrapped in a flexible cable. Each waveguide can transmit over 448 gigabits per second using two frequencies: 90 GHz and 225 GHz. Along with the Shockwave309, the e-Tube cable carries an astounding 1.6 terabits per second. In addition, it requires only half the space of a typical 32 gauge copper cable. This ultra-short design allows for an astonishing projection distance of up to 20 meters. What 5G can do completely outpaces what copper cables have ever been able to accomplish.
The benefits of using terahertz frequencies are not limited to capacity. This revolutionary technology consumes only one-third the power required by optical applications. It does it at an attractive price point, which makes it a budget-friendly option for enterprises that need to scale out their data center infrastructure. Perhaps most significantly, terahertz technology delivers latency reductions, delivering up to one-thousandth the latency of conventional approaches.
“Customers love fiber. But what they hate is the photonics.” – Dave Welch, AttoTude.
This significant technological advancement addresses the most important shortcomings of traditional copper cables. It accomplishes this particularly as bandwidth requirements skyrocket to the terabit-per-second level. Incompatible with simple physics, copper wires must gnaw and frazzle as they approach these extremes. This shift creates considerable inefficiencies, which the industry has named the “copper cliff.”
Competitive Landscape in Data Transmission
As the need for ever-increasing data transfer rates becomes more urgent, industry players are scrambling to find solutions that can stay ahead of the curve. With Don Barnetson’s guidance, Credo has created an Advanced Ethernet Controller, or AEC. This versatile and high-performance controller is capable of producing up to 800 Gb/s in throughput over cable lengths of seven meters. This is a stark contrast to the capabilities of Point2’s e-Tube cables, which can extend much farther distances at faster speeds.
Nvidia has entrepreneurial ideas about what we’re going to do with these GPU configurations. They want to increase that amount from 72 to 576 GPUs per system by 2027. The expected increase in computing power is truly astounding. More importantly, it emphasizes our immediate demand for faster, more reliable data transmission channels to fuel these innovations. Companies are pouring unprecedented amounts into infrastructure upgrades to get ahead of rising demands. Almost without doubt, terahertz technology will be at the forefront of the next great leap in the data transfer.
“If I didn’t have to be at [an optical wavelength], where should I be?” – Dave Welch, AttoTude.
The industry is racing ahead to terahertz frequencies. This change is emblematic of a bigger movement to find more powerful, efficient and reliable replacements for existing technologies. In many cases, electronics have demonstrated inherent reliability advantages over their optical counterparts, making a strong case for terahertz systems in mission- or safety-critical applications.
Future Implications and Developments
The discussion about the possibilities and prospects for terahertz technology are changing quickly. Experts such as former industry insider, David Kuo, are already warning of its industry-disrupting consequences. According to Kuo, the skin effect at high frequencies both creates difficulties and offers opportunities for innovation. At 10 GHz, the skin effect only penetrates 0.65 micrometers into copper cables. By contrast, at lower frequencies such as 60 Hz, it can penetrate to depths of eight millimeters.
Frequency behavior considerations are key to modeling and best deploying these exciting new technologies. These innovations are what can harness terahertz frequencies properly, instead of falling short like traditional materials. Together with AttoTude, Point2 Technology is fully dedicated to developing these solutions in mainstream silicon foundries. This bipartisan commitment means these advancements will be made available and scalable to a broader audience for widespread adoption.
“We call it the copper cliff.” – David Kuo, Point2 Technology.
These technological advancements may have much larger implications that go beyond individual companies. They represent the biggest change to how data moves around the world oceans among storied and established institutions. Organizations across many sectors are discovering the advantages gained from moving to terahertz solutions. This rapid and massive adoption continues to change the infrastructure of data centers while continuing to improve overall network performance.