Scientists at Monash University created an integrated photonic chip that generates, directs, and reads light-based information on a single device for the first time, advancing valleytronics research.

Researchers from Monash University's School of Physics and Astronomy built a fully integrated chip capable of producing specialized light signals, steering them along specific paths, and converting them into electrical signals within the same compact system. The findings were published in Nature Photonics.

The device uses ultra-thin materials only a few atoms thick paired with specially engineered nanostructures to control light at extremely small scales. It encodes information using the "valley degree of freedom," a quantum property, and operates at room temperature—unlike many quantum systems that require extremely cold environments.

The technology demonstrated the ability to encode and process two separate images simultaneously, showing the device can manage multiple streams of information at once. According to the researchers, the chip has potential applications in quantum computing, advanced imaging, and next-generation optical communication systems.