The future of high-speed computing may be larger CPUs with optics

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Contrary to current trends, the CPU may get bigger in the future. Yes, the size of CPUs are larger today than they were in the past, but they also pack in more transistors. The future may involve larger CPUs but with a much lower density of transistors. Why? Because of optics.

The idea of purely optical computers-and hybrid electronic-optical computers-is not new. But a set of recent advances is the first time I've thought we might be entering an era where some functions beyond long-distance communication will be handled optically.

Have you seen the light?

There are two properties of optical computers that make them attractive. The first is that they are naturally fast: light pulses travel at (yes) the speed of light. And when light switches light-the optical equivalent of a transistor-it happens very fast (think femtoseconds, which are 10^-15 of a second). These two properties combine to make optical computers much faster than electronic computers.

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