IBM researchers are getting close to developing chips that use pulses of light instead of electrical signals over copper wire to share information. The low-power nanophotonic avalanche photodetector is the fastest of its kind, able to transmit data at speeds up to 40 gigabits per second using a 1.5 volt power supply. This chip could be a huge step in making computers and other electronics more energy efficient. Using 20 times less energy than chips currently in use, IBM says that a traditional system using 20-30 volts could be operated by a 1.6 volt AA battery! 

The chip itself is made using existing semiconductor technology and the light signals themselves are transmitted over silicon circuits. The term 'avalanche' in the devices' name comes from the way the exchange of information builds as the circuit does its job. Much like an avalanche on steep slope where a tiny pack of snow triggers a large scale slide, an incoming photon releases an electron causing a cascade effect releasing many other electrons, amplifying the original signal many times. Researchers are hoping this new technology will allow them to build computers capable of exaflop performance, roughly 600 times faster than world's most powerful computer. You can watch a short video explaining the technology here.