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Multiterabit Switching, No Moving Parts
npongratz writes "Hailing from the world of physics, chemistry, and assorted geewhiz, Lynx Photonic Networks announced a photonic switch with less than 5ns packet switching. "...multiterabit switching systems..." That's what I call bitchin' switchin'." And unlike certain optical switches discussed here before based on bubbles moving in liquid, this variety "does not have any moving parts, nor does it require a change in the physical state of the light signal." 5 nanoseconds.
Here is a link to their related patent with some more info on the tech used. Pretty damn cool.
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Jon - TheSpork
Sounds somewhat missleading to me. While clearly this technology is facinating and will outperform mirrors and bubbles, I raise some doubts about these claims. First, the light signal must be translated into electronic signal in order for the processor to make the switch (because they don't have an all optical processor).
With the electric address signal you could control an electro-optical switch, so the signal can be switched optically. Only the address is translated into an electric signal. With optical-optical switches it may be possible to eliminate this conversion too.
Second, they do have moving part in the optical gateway which is heated in order to polarize the light for a particular channel. What is the durability of this gateway?
The heated parts are special materials that will have a slightly different refractive-index when heated (or cooled). In this case they are used to tune the 'optical length' of the cavity, so the small manufacturing errors are corrected.
Jasper