NIST scientists create 'any wavelength' lasers

NIST scientists and collaborators have developed a method to create integrated circuits for light by depositing complex patterns of specialized materials onto silicon wafers, creating "photonics chips" that use optical devices like lasers, waveguides, filters and switches. These light-based circuits could provide significant advances for artificial intelligence, quantum computers and optical atomic clocks, as photons move much faster through circuits than electrons and laser light is essential for controlling quantum technologies. The research represents a major step toward making light-based circuitry as powerful and widespread as traditional electronic circuits.