Speeding up electronics to light frequencies

Up to 100 billion switching operations per second is the maximum speed of today's silicon transistors. In two basic experiments Munich scientists have shown that non-conductive materials may be used for similar switching – with the help of extremely short laser pulses. Thus, switching frequencies about 10,000 times faster might be feasible.

Further Information at http://www.tum.de/en/about-tum/news/press-releases/long/article/30245/.