A team of scientists in Singapore have produced ultra-fast electrical circuits that run at tens of thousands of times faster than today’s microprocessors. These new circuits were created using light-generated tunneling currents through a process called quantum plasmonic tunneling.
The team was able to change molecules in a molecular electronic device and the frequency of the circuits was altered. Through demonstrations, the team was able to show quantum-plasmonics is achievable at length scales that are applicable in the real world. These new circuits have the potential to transform high-speed electronics, nanoscale opto-electronic and nonlinear optic applications.