Optical Topologic Logic

The goal of this proposal is the development of light-induced and controlled topology for energy-efficient logic operations. We address the fact that 10% of the global energy production is used to power electronic circuits which perform logic operations for the global internet and in consumer devices, and that the projected energy consumption will increase by 20% by 2030. OPTOlogic envisions a new class of dissipation-less quantum devices generated through spatially and temporally structured ultrafast pulses of light to artificially induce and control topological protected states. With OPTOlogic, we will prepare future quantum devices based on intrinsic and light-induced topological building blocks which move and store information with minimal energy expense, whilst achieving dramatically increased computing power. We will create a computing architecture that exploits light-induced topology within which near-arbitrary patterns can be written, changed, and re-written on the fly. The required breakthrough will be achieved with a multi-disciplinary team of experts and SME which unites world-leading experimental, theoretical, and industrial expertise in condensed matter physics, ultrafast laser technology, non-linear optics, strong-field physics, attosecond metrology, quantum optics and gauge theory, quantum computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Overall, increasing the energy efficiency and speed of logical operations, OPTOlogic would have a significant economic, environmental, and social impact and address a market which was valued 426.0 million USD in 2017.