Search
Menu
Lumencor Inc. - ZIVA Light Engine 3-24 LB

Research could Accelerate AI Systems to Compute Faster Than Human Brain

Facebook X LinkedIn Email
Two State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) researchers have been awarded $900,000 in funding from the Rome-based Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to conduct a study on brain-inspired (neuromorphic) computing systems comprised of quantum devices operating at cryogenic (below −450 °F) temperatures.

Satyavolu Papa Rao, associate vice president for research and adjunct professor of nanoscience, and Nathaniel Cady, professor of nanobioscience, will work to address the stumbling blocks in all-electronic implementations of neuromorphic computing by research and development of the critical elements of superconducting optoelectronics at the 300-mm scale.
Satyavolu Papa Rao, associate vice president for research and adjunct professor of nanoscience at the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
Satyavolu Papa Rao, associate vice president for research and adjunct professor of nanoscience at the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. Courtesy of SUNY.

The brain-inspired infrastructure will use ultrafast, extremely energy-efficient Josephson junctions, which consist of two superconducting materials and a thin nonsuperconducting material in between. 

The Josephson junctions will be combined with silicon-based infrared photon emitters, which generate light pulses that allow a given neuron to communicate with many downstream neurons. This arrangement mimics how the human brain works by sending and receiving ultrashort electrical pulses that it uses to simultaneously store and process information.

Research will be conducted in SUNY Poly’s 300-mm wafer fabrication facility using the same tool platforms on which advanced computer chips are built. This research, the scientists said, can accelerate the development of large-scale, fab-friendly superconducting optoelectronic systems that could compute 30,000× faster than the human brain, but at the same level of energy efficiency.


Hamamatsu Corp. - Earth Innovations MR 2/24

Published: June 2019
Glossary
optoelectronics
Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light and its interactions with different materials. The term "optoelectronics" is a combination of "optics" and "electronics," reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of this field. Optoelectronic devices convert electrical signals into optical signals or vice versa, making them crucial in various technologies. Some key components and applications of optoelectronics include: ...
Research & TechnologyeducationfundingAmericasoptoelectronicsinfrared photon emittersSUNY Polytechnic Institutelight speed

We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.