| Abstract: | Optics has been used in computing for a number of years but the main emphasis has been and continues to be to link portions
of computers, for communications, or more intrinsically in devices that have some optical application or component (optical
pattern recognition, etc). Optical digital computers are still some years away, however a number of devices that can ultimately
lead to real optical computers have already been manufactured, including optical logic gates, optical switches, optical interconnections,
and optical memory. The most likely near-term optical computer will really be a hybrid composed of traditional architectural
design along with some portions that can perform some functional operations in optical mode. |
