Minnesota-based startup Maxwell Labs has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with Sandia and the University of New Mexico to demonstrate laser-based photonic cooling for computer chips. The company is pioneering the new technology to regulate the temperature of chips, and significantly lower the power consumption and increase the efficiency of conventional air and water-based systems.
Detailing on their research, Raktim Sarma, the Lead Sandia Physicist on the project, said, “About 30 to 40% of the energy data centers use is spent on cooling. In some communities, the amount of water needed (for cooling) can strain local resources.” Maxwell’s experimental microchip components could bring relief to the data center industry, where energy costs have become a growing concern.
According to Maxwell Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer Mike Karpe, “A successful project will not only address the immediate need for energy savings but also pave the way for processors to operate at performance levels that were previously thought impossible.”
All activities in data centers generate heat, so data centers need extensive cooling systems to prevent servers from overheating. Many researchers, including Raktim, have been studying photonic technologies – devices that harness light to perform useful work – for various applications, including data processing, communications and national security. Compared to electronics, photonics can be faster and more energy efficient.
