Don’t know if this is the correct community to ask this question but here goes.
I am a physics/math major and I am fascinated by computers. I want to work on a field that deals with cutting edge computer hardware (sort of like how ssd was in the age of hdd). But most of the research seems to be on stuff that will be used by corporations (not affordable for common people).
Does anyone have any idea what field is closest to what I’m looking for?
I’d get into optical computing.
Look up Intel’s research into optical buses, as an example. Or experiments in pure optical inference. I just find this whole field extremely practical in a wide range, from “usefully augmenting silicon PC chips” to specialized accelerators to farther-out computing paradigms.
I’d also look into Josephine Junction computation. If there’s a sudden breakthrough in room temperature superconductivity, that becomes very important, very quickly.
I also find “biological computers” or those emulating biology interesting, but don’t understand enough about them to even begin to assess it.
I’m less enthusiastic about quantum computing. It’s extremely useful in a few niches, but it feels like it’s hit crypto-like levels of hype: a narrowly useful tech that’s being pushed way beyond what it’s good at.
It is related to the other areas I listed, though.