The company has developed a device, the Avalanche Photodetector (APD), that senses light pulses and amplifies output signals for faster data transfer over long distances, the company said.

Researchers claim this is a big advancement in the field of silicon photonics, in which silicon is used to transfer light pulses for data exchange between chips and devices. As computing power grows, researchers in the field are developing cheaper and faster technologies like APDs that could enable high-bandwidth applications like 3D virtual reality and telemedicine.

The APD device is an advancement over earlier photodetector technologies, which are less sensitive in detecting light signals, use more power and offer slower data rates. The APD is also made of standard silicon material, instead of the more expensive materials such as indium phosphide, Intel said.

APD can detect light at higher frequencies and moves data at rates of 40G bits per second (bps), making it more sensitive and quicker than earlier photodetectors, Intel said. The APD consumes less electrical power than standard photodetectors and is capable of saving more power over shorter distances.

Researchers at Intel said that this is the first time a photodetector made of standard silicon betters the performance of devices made from more expensive materials. By using standard silicon, Intel also hopes to provide economies of scale for high-volume production of such devices in existing fabs.