Optical Computer Made From Frozen Light

neutron_p writes "Scientists at Harvard University have shown how ultra-cold atoms can be used to freeze and control light to form the "core" - or central processing unit - of an optical computer. Optical computers would transport information ten times faster than traditional electronic devices, smashing the intrinsic speed limit of silicon technology. This new research could be a major breakthrough in the quest to create super-fast computers that use light instead of electrons to process information. Professor Lene Hau is one of the world's foremost authorities on "slow light". Her research group became famous for slowing down light, which normally travels at 186,000 miles per second, to less than the speed of a bicycle."

Comments

Re:May I be the first to say...

[SpinningAround]

You are lacking a sense of humour.

And in other news, only old people in Korea use silicon semiconductors.

Optical Computer? Yes but...

[RCanine]

Does it run Linux?

Re:Quick Reflection on a Slow Mirror

[Doc Ruby]

Nice clue, nice pun :). We do already have photonics computation, before we have really achieved our paradigmmatic "transphotor" or "photistor". And FWIW, Einstein-Bose condensates that slow light to bicycle speeds actually do hint at moving backwards in time. Thanks for steering me to the right places to look - see you then :).