Austin startup looks to move chip data at the speed of light

An Austin startup called La Luce Cristallina is developing ultra-thin crystal layers on silicon wafers to enable photonic devices that transmit data using light instead of electrical signals. The technology, which emerged from University of Texas research, could reduce power consumption in chips by up to 100 times while enabling faster data communication between processors. The company's development complements Central Texas's expanding semiconductor sector, which includes Samsung's new manufacturing facility in Williamson County.