As computers become more powerful, their energy demands increase, motivating research into technologies that could enable faster, more energy-efficient information processing. In the latest episode of our “Explain Like I’m Five” video series, we feature Cluster Doctoral Researcher Erik Jung, who works under the supervision of Principal Investigator Wolfram Pernice at the Universität Heidelberg. In the video, Jung explains his research on photonic chip technologies, which process information using light instead of electrical signals. These technologies rely on extremely small, high-precision structures fabricated using advanced 3D printing and integrated directly onto semiconductor chips. The Explain Like I’m Five series invites doctoral researchers to present their research topics in an accessible format that makes complex scientific ideas understandable beyond disciplinary boundaries.
