Virtual World #14 27 декабря 1997

Reality?! - Optical processors.

         REALITY?


(P) SHEYH ALEKS / TNL



    Optical processors.


  Recent advances in
quantum electronics, holography, and optical media technology 
to ensure the creation of controlled optical modulators (OUT) 
and reversible optical media have created the prerequisites for 
the design and construction of optical processors, 
qualitatively different from electronic in its functional 
structure and capabilities. 


  In the computer storage medium is an electric current, and
means of storing and processing information are electrical 
circuits, and hence for time clock with the current passed only 
1 bit of information and a scheme implemented strictly defined 
operations ie in the use of schemes

can not change the types of running
operations (except processor commands the other teams do not). 
This led to the creation of specialized logic and functional 
schemes and blocks, for example: an adder, counter, register, 
decoder, etc. These circuits and components are key elements of 
a computer. Almost impossible to create

greater number of such schemes and
units for special purposes,
so the computer is used
very limited set of basic types of operations. Under
basic operation is an
operation, implemented by hardware
without software control. In
result, the different operations on computers are solved by
sequences of a limited set of basic operations. This
leads to inefficient use of existing performance, as well as 
memory. 


  In contrast to the electronic processor in the optical carrier
Information is light, and
means of storing and handling it is a reversible
Environment and OUT, so in the optical processor can:


    1. through a beam of light to transmit information during a 
single clock more than 10 ^ 6 bits. This enables

spatial modulation of the beam
light;


    2. store information not
only as a bitmap or
analog signal, but also in the form
holograms;


    3. process information
in parallel in volumes greater than 10 ^ 6
bits in one beam of light;


    4. alter or form
by vychesleniya kinds of operations. This flexibility
provides an effective solution
a variety of tasks;


  Advantages of optical processors:


    1. Ease of operations performed;


    2. The union and intersection
in 2-dimensional space;


    3. Sustained protection against harmful interference when 
crossing the optical beams as communication channels are 
implemented in the air; 


    4. The absence of a wired connection and switching, which 
eliminates the emergence of parasitic capacitances and

eliminates the need for soldering,
in electrical connectors and more.


Reprint from 'NONAME' source

                  27.12.97/17: 25


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