| Image Credit: Ayar Labs |
For decades, the idea of computation with optics rather than electronics has intrigued scientists-but electronics has always seemed to win out on cost, capabilities and compactness. Now, however, as Moore's law starts to run up against physical limits and as artificial intelligence and machine learning put new strains on traditional electronic data centers, computing with photons has once again started to look attractive. So attractive, in fact, that new companies are forming to try and commercialize it.
In the January issue of Optica's Optics & Photonics News (OPN), a cover story by freelance science journalist Edwin Cartlidge looks at several of these entrepreneurial ventures in photonic computing. Some companies are working on application-specific chips that use light-based computation to slash the energy and processing costs of AI routines. Others see optical-computing gold not in such photonic processors, but in faster, better and more compact optical interconnects between electronic chips. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Image Credit: Angela B. Seddon, University of Nottingham, UK |
As featured in the 2023 January member blog, at Optica's recent Laser Congress, Angela B. Seddon's plenary presentation detailed a new 'window of opportunity' for real-time mid-infrared medical sensing, imaging, and endoscopy for early cancer detection.
In her current role at the University of Nottingham, UK, Professor Angela B. Seddon leads the Mid-Infrared Photonics Group. Seddon and her colleagues operate a world-class facility for fabricating and characterizing mid-infrared fiber optics, chips, and devices. Her current research emphasizes real-time mid-infrared medical sensing, imaging, and endoscopy for early cancer detection. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Image Credit: Myung-Ki Kim, Korea University |
| Researchers have developed a new all-optical method for driving multiple highly dense nanolasers. This new technology could enable connections that process and move data faster than electronic-based devices. The work is featured in a news release from Optica. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Image Credit: Optics Express |
| In this featured article from Optics Express, researchers reveal how laser light can be used to pull macroscopic objects, and could be useful for scientific and space applications. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Image Credit: Getty Images |
| As featured in the 2022 December member blog and Dr.Dahv Kilner's plenary presentation at Optica's Laser Congress, learn how the laser is transforming the economics of industrial production. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Image Credit: Alain Herzo, (2020) |
| An Uncertain World |
| Learn how a quest to understand nature created a world-renowned nanophotonics expert. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Image Credit: Optica |
| Open Preprint Server |
| Optica Publishing Group is pleased to announce the launch of Optica Open, a new preprint server dedicated to advancing optics and photonics research worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
