<ul><li>Scientists at the University of Arizona, in collaboration with researchers from the U.S. and Germany, have developed the world’s first phototransistor capable of operating at petahertz speeds.</li><li>The breakthrough involved using ultrafast laser pulses to manipulate electrons in graphene, triggering quantum tunneling where electrons move through barriers almost instantly, allowing for electric currents to be generated at unimaginable speeds, measured in attoseconds.</li><li>This light-based quantum effect enables data processing at petahertz speeds, over 1,000 times faster than current processors, potentially revolutionizing computing and bridging the gap between software and hardware advancements.</li><li>The phototransistor functions in normal conditions and is a promising candidate for future commercial devices, with efforts underway to patent and market the invention for the development of ultrafast computers powered by light.</li></ul>

World’s first ultrafast light-based transistor could power computers a million times faster

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