Researchers have developed a compact chip capable of generating, steering, and reading light-based information within a single device. This breakthrough in valleytronics uses atomically thin materials and nanostructures to control a quantum property of light known as the «valley» degree of freedom, enabling new ways to encode data. The Monash University team overcame a key challenge: previously, researchers could either generate or detect such signals, but not all three steps in one integrated system. The device operates at room temperature — a major advantage over many quantum systems that require extreme cooling. In experiments, the chip successfully encoded and processed two images simultaneously, demonstrating its capacity to handle multiple information streams. The technology could pave the way for more energy-efficient computing systems, advance quantum technologies, and enable new methods for secure communications.
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