Hassan is collaborating with Tech Launch Arizona to patent and market this invention, with the goal of integrating the petahertz-speed transistor into microchips for practical use.

This breakthrough could enable computer processing speeds in the petahertz range, exceeding the capabilities of modern computer chips by over 1,000 times.

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed the world's fastest petahertz quantum transistor, utilizing a modified graphene phototransistor with a silicon layer and operating a laser at an astonishing rate of 638 attoseconds.

During their research, the team unexpectedly discovered a tunneling effect that allowed electrons to bypass barriers, which could significantly enhance current flow and accelerate data processing.

Associate Professor Mohammed Hassan emphasized the importance of this breakthrough in addressing the hardware limitations that have not kept pace with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence software.

If successfully commercialized, this innovative technology could revolutionize computing architecture, drastically reducing processing times in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, cryptography, and molecular modeling.

Notably, this new transistor operates under normal room conditions, enhancing its viability for commercial applications in everyday electronics.

The research team, which includes experts from the University of Arizona and collaborators from institutions like the California Institute of Technology and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, initially focused on the electrical conductivity of modified graphene samples.

The light-based transistor technology is being prepared for commercialization through Tech Launch Arizona, targeting applications in artificial intelligence, space technology, and medicine.

Hassan advocates for leveraging quantum discoveries to enhance hardware capabilities, aligning them with the swift progress seen in artificial intelligence software.

This development is particularly significant as it addresses the widening speed gap between rapidly evolving software technologies and the slower advancements in hardware, especially in the realm of artificial intelligence.

A study published recently in Nature Communications details how this technique could enable processing speeds in the petahertz range, significantly surpassing current computer chip technologies.