New programmable photonic chip can control how fast light moves

The technology could provide the delays, synchronization, and buffering functions needed to make light-based computing more practical. Scientists have created a programmable optical chip that can slow light on demand, giving engineers far greater control over how optical signals propagate through a circuit. A single chip could eventually perform several tasks that currently require separate devices, potentially reducing energy use, cost, and complexity in artificial intellect servers and information centers.