Researchers at Monash University have developed a compact photonic chip capable of generating, directing, and detecting information carried by light within a single integrated device.

The breakthrough advances the field of valleytronics, which uses a quantum property known as the valley degree of freedom to encode and process information in novel ways.

Until now, scientists had been able to generate or detect valley-based signals separately, but integrating all key functions into one chip had remained a significant challenge.The new device combines atomically thin materials with engineered nanoscale metasurfaces that precisely manipulate light at extremely small scales.

According to the research team, a practical stacking method was used to integrate these materials and structures, avoiding technical difficulties associated with direct material growth.One of the technology’s major advantages is that it operates at room temperature, unlike many quantum systems that require extremely cold conditions.The researchers believe this could make future applications more practical and cost-effective.

Potential uses include faster and more energy-efficient computing systems, advanced optical communications, secure information transfer, quantum technologies, and high-performance imaging.

To demonstrate the chip’s capabilities, the team successfully encoded and processed two separate images simultaneously, showing that the platform can handle multiple streams of information at once.

Published in Nature Photonics, the study represents a step toward scalable photonic and valleytronic computing systems that rely on light rather than electrical currents to process data.

The international project involved researchers from Australia, China, Singapore, Germany, and Japan, bringing together expertise in nanophotonics, optoelectronics, and two-dimensional materials.