A laser-controlled water-based switch that operates twice as fast as existing semiconductor switches has been developed by a trio of physicists in Germany. Adrian Buchmann, Claudius Hoberg, Fabio Novelli at Ruhr University Bochum used an ultrashort laser pulse to create a temporary metal-like state in a jet of liquid water. This altered the transmission of terahertz pulses over timescales of just tens of femtoseconds.
With the latest semiconductor-based switches approaching fundamental upper limits on how fast they can operate, researchers are on the hunt for faster ways of switching signals. One unexpected place to look for inspiration is the curious behaviour of water under extreme conditions – like those deep within ice-giant planets or created by powerful lasers.
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