Photonic Clock Chip Paves the Way for Next-Generation Ultra-Fast Computing and Communications

A research team from Peking University and the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a new photonic clock chip that offers a key advancement for future ultra-fast computing for AI development, 6G networks, autonomous vehicles, and remote sensing.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking on-chip microcomb oscillator to tackle the challenge of synchronizing photonic and electronic signals in optoelectronic systems. Think of it like a perfectly tuned orchestra where every instrument plays in sync—this technology ensures precise timing across a wide range of frequencies, from megahertz （MHz） up to an impressive 105 gigahertz (GHz).

MHz acts as the steady heartbeat of the tech world, powering everything from radio broadcasts to early computers and home Wi-Fi routers, keeping devices in sync. GHz, on the other hand, is the high-speed engine that drives modern technology, enabling ultra-fast computing, 5G and 6G networks, and advanced communication systems for the future.

At the core of this breakthrough is an ultra-high-Q resonator microcomb paired with self-injection locking technology. This setup creates a shared time-frequency reference, allowing different systems to work together seamlessly.

In real-world tests, a multi-band chip system integrating both communication and sensing functions successfully supported 5G, 6G, and millimeter-wave remote sensing simultaneously. It also enabled smooth transitions between communication and sensing modes without disruption.

Notably, the system demonstrated outstanding performance—achieving high-precision, centimeter-level sensing and 256-QAM modulation accuracy, all while maintaining full data capacity.

This breakthrough technology has the potential to transform multiple industries. It could push processor chip clock frequencies beyond 100 GHz, unlocking computing power far beyond today’s standards. Additionally, it may drastically lower the energy consumption and costs of mobile base stations while improving sensing accuracy and response speed in autonomous vehicles. By revolutionizing communication and sensing technologies, this advancement is set to accelerate industry growth and innovation.

The research findings were published in Nature Electronics (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-025-01349-7) under the title “Microcomb-Synchronized Optoelectronics.” The study was led by ZHANG Xiangpeng, a PhD graduate from the AIR and a postdoctoral researcher at Peking University, along with Peking University doctoral students ZHANG Xuguang and CHEN Yujun, who are co-first authors. The corresponding authors include CHANG Lin, an assistant professor at Peking University; LI Wangzhe, a researcher at AIR; Additional contributions came from DONG Jingwen, MA Weichao, and LIU Chenyu of AIR.

Conceptual illustration of a microcomb-synchronized optoelectronic system. The microcomb enables clock generation, where the beats between different comb lines allow the synthesis of clock signals to serve various applications, such as CPUs, graphics processing units, the internet of things and data centres. The clock signals can be distributed to different locations through low-loss optical fibre transmission to create a microcomb-synchronized network. By taking advantage of the microcomb to generate several coherent carriers over tens of nanometres, signals in the megahertz to beyond the terahertz range can be manipulated by integrated photonic circuits. (Image by AIR)