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optical computer
(redirected from Optical computing)

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optical computer
A computer in which all internal circuits use light instead of electricity. Long predicted, an all-optical computer is not expected for some time as there are enormous hurdles to overcome. However, there are definite advantages to optical circuits over electrical ones. Light beams are neither affected by external radiation, nor by themselves. In fact, light beams can cross each other, allowing for simpler travel paths between inputs and outputs. See all-optical network.
optical computer [′äp·tə·kəl kəm′pyüd·ər]
(computer science)
A computer that uses various combinations of holography, lasers, and mass-storage memories for such applications as ultra-high-speed signal processing, image deblurring, and character recognition.


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The achievement helps enable the development of such innovations as nanolasers that can probe, manipulate and characterize DNA molecules; optics-based telecommunications many times faster than current technology; and optical computing in which light replaces electronic circuitry with a corresponding leap in speed and processing power.
The text concludes with current and emerging trends, such as Dataflow, Grid, biology-inspired and optical computing.
The new fabrication scheme could prove to be a cheaper and more flexible route to building miniature constructions, including scaffolds for growing replacement tissues and photonic crystals for optical computing.
 
 
 
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