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Nature 437, 1244 (27 October 2005) | doi:10.1038/4371244a; Published online 26 October 2005

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Solid-state physics: Silicon's new shine

Gareth Parry1

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The semiconductor material used in computing systems does not emit light. But a silicon-based structure that can modulate light from an independent source might aid the marriage of optical and electronic components.

Electronic components made of silicon have so far coped with almost every new challenge in the processing and storage of data. But substantial further progress might only be possible if optical (light-based) technology is used to help distribute or communicate information within, or possibly between, processors1, 2.

  1. Gareth Parry is in the Department of Physics, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
    Email: g.parry@imperial.ac.uk

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