Overview

• Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed the world’s fastest transistor, operating at petahertz speeds—over a million times faster than current processors.
• The innovation uses 638-attosecond laser pulses to induce quantum tunneling in graphene, enabling light-based transistor operation.
• The device, a modified graphene phototransistor with an added silicon layer, functions at room temperature, making it suitable for commercialization.
• A study detailing the breakthrough was published in *Nature Communications*, with researchers now collaborating with Tech Launch Arizona to patent and commercialize the technology.
• Potential applications include accelerating advancements in artificial intelligence, space exploration, cryptography, and molecular modeling.