Photonic integrated circuits maintain programming using less energy; instantly reconfigurable using standard electric signals

https://techxplore.com/news/2026-05-optical-chip-static-power-enabling.html

"chips require constant electricity, overcome using silicon optical circuits integrated with phase-change materials where electrical pulse changes state from crystalline to amorphous (staying that way without additional power), altering light movement... near 0 static power consumption... large neural networks can be hard-wired into chip's light paths... combines electronics' programmability (logic/ control) with photonics' energy efficiency... optical switching, edge computing, autonomous vehicles, drones"