Is light-speed analog computing on the horizon?

Scientists have achieved breakthroughs in analog computing and have developed programmable electronic circuits that utilize the properties of high-frequency electromagnetic waves to perform complex parallel processing at the speed of light.

This discovery points to a new era of computing that uses less energy to operate well beyond the limits of traditional digital electronics while performing large-scale calculations.

This study, “Programmable Circuits for Analog Matrix Computation,” is published in Nature Communications.

The study was led by Dr. Rasool Keshavarz of Sydney Institute of Technology (UTS) and Associate Professor Mohammad-Ali Miri of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), co-authors Dr. Kevin Zelaya (RIT) and associate professor Negin Shariati of UT, and founding director (RFCT) Lab (RFCT) Lab.

“This breakthrough paves the way for next-generation analog radio frequency (RF) and microwave processors with applications requiring radar, advanced communications, sensors and real-time operation,” said Dr. Keshawartz, leading systems engineer and technology lead at RFCT Labs.

“We have designed the first programmable microwave integrated circuit that can bridge physics and electronics to perform matrix transformations, a type of mathematical operation based on the latest technology,” says Associate Professor Mohammad Ali Mili.

Traditional digital computing is limited by factors such as transistor switching, clock speed (the speed at which the digital processor executes instructions), heat generation, and energy efficiency.

In contrast, analog computing can directly process information using continuous signals such as electromagnetic waves, and perform many calculations in parallel with much less energy.

Potential applications are broad. Ultra-fast analog processors can enhance new tools for next-generation wireless networks, real-time radar for defense and space, sensing, advanced monitoring of mining and agriculture, industrial and scientific research.

“By establishing a platform for scalable analog signal processing, this collaboration will place UTS and its international partners at the forefront of a new computing paradigm, integrating device-level physics and system-level applications,” says Dr. Keshavalz.

“This research marks the beginning of a broader research trajectory. Follow-up research is geared towards expanding technology towards practical systems-level architectures so that computing can move beyond digital limits.”

“This new study is a great example of incorporating bold concepts and turning them into reality through world-class, interdisciplinary collaboration,” says Associate Professor Shariati.

“By bringing together Australia and the US electronics, RF engineering, physics and photonics expertise, the team is moving this breakthrough from theory to work platforms, paving the way for practical, next-generation computing systems.”

Dr. Keshavarz said this approach is fundamentally different from quantum computing.

“Unlike quantum systems facing major scalability and stability challenges, our analog computing platform is viable today, allowing real-world applications to be delivered faster.”