Optical Computing

Optical Computing

Today's computers use the movement of electrons in-and-out of transistors to do logic. Optical or Photonic computing is intended to use photons or light particles, produced by lasers or diodes, in place of electrons. Compared to electrons, photons have a higher bandwidth.

Most research projects focus on replacing current computer components with optical equivalents, resulting in an optical digital computer system processing binary data. This approach appears to offer best short-term prospects for commercial optical computing, since optical components could be integrated into traditional computers to produce an optical(or)electronic hybrid. However, optoelectronic devices lose 30% of their energy converting electrons into photons and back. This also slows down transmission of messages. All-optical computers eliminate the need for optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions.

Application-specific devices have been designed which use principles of optical computing, e.g., optical correlators. Such devices can be used for detecting and tracking objects, for example.

Read more about Optical Computing:  Optical Components For Binary Digital Computer, Misconceptions, Challenges and Prospects, Photonic Logic, Further Reading

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