Optical computing

Optical computing or photonic computing uses <a href="/facts/Light_wave/jeofpMn4">light waves</a> produced by <a href="/facts/Laser/jk6PTvvT">lasers</a> or incoherent sources for <a href="/facts/Data_processing/74EKCDAq">data processing</a>, data storage or <a href="/facts/Data_communication/1yAhaANd">data communication</a> for <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>. For decades, <a href="/facts/Photon/mFNhAEzA">photons</a> have shown promise to enable a higher <a href="/facts/Bandwidth_(signal_processing)/7eMDzfJI">bandwidth</a> than the <a href="/facts/Electron/L0KBo5cW">electrons</a> used in conventional computers (see <a href="/facts/Optical_fiber/5ruuIFbj">optical fibers</a>).
Most research projects focus on replacing current computer components with optical equivalents, resulting in an optical <a href="/facts/Digital_computer/SQe1aK05">digital computer</a> system processing <a href="/facts/Binary_data/PSFa5S2Q">binary data</a>. This approach appears to offer the best short-term prospects for commercial optical computing, since optical components could be integrated into traditional computers to produce an optical-electronic hybrid. However, <a href="/facts/Optoelectronic/0SCr9px0">optoelectronic</a> devices consume 30% of their energy converting electronic energy into photons and back; this conversion also slows the transmission of messages. All-optical computers eliminate the need for optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions, thus reducing electrical <a href="/facts/Power_consumption/eEl4r39x">power consumption</a>.
Application-specific devices, such as <a href="/facts/Synthetic-aperture_radar/MJbDGvTh">synthetic-aperture radar</a> (SAR) and <a href="/facts/Optical_correlator/rBQmgdAL">optical correlators</a>, have been designed to use the principles of optical computing. Correlators can be used, for example, to detect and track objects, and to classify serial time-domain optical data.

Optical computing open-in-new

Optical computing