In April 2025, a groundbreaking collaboration between Maxwell Labs, Sandia National Laboratories, and the University of New Mexico began in the United States. This partnership focuses on developing laser-based photonic cooling technologies, aiming to revolutionize how we cool high-density computer processors.
The project tackles the significant energy consumption of data centers, which often dedicate a large portion of their power to cooling systems. The innovative approach uses laser light to target and cool localized hot spots on chips, particularly GPUs, potentially reducing power consumption and boosting efficiency.
The technology relies on ultra-pure gallium arsenide, with Sandia's expertise in molecular beam epitaxy being crucial. The team is also employing inverse design, a computer optimization technique, to create photonic structures that precisely direct laser light. This could lead to processors operating at unprecedented performance levels, with the project currently in the testing and fabrication phase.