Research focused on enabling desktop computers to see the light

Researchers in England are attempting to build a desktop computer that runs on light rather than electronics.

A $1.6 million research project starting in June at the University of Bath is focused on developing attosecond technology, which refers to continuously emitting light pulses that last just a billion-billionth of a second.

Fetah Benabid of the Department of Physics at Bath will lead a team to develop new ways to control photons in much the way current computer technology controls electric fields. Focus is turning to photons as it becomes increasingly difficult to squeeze more oomph into traditional computers by shrinking silicon chips, which can only get so small according to the laws of physics.

The Bath researchers are using new photonic crystal fibers to make advances beyond current optical fibers.

"Harnessing optical waves would represent a huge step, perhaps the definitive one, in establishing the photonics era," said Dr. Benabid in a statement. "Since the development of the laser, a major goal in science and technology has been to emulate the breakthroughs of electronics by using optical waves. We feel this project could be a big step in this."

More info here.

Photonics are a ripe area for research, with companies such as IBM working on photonic chips and outfits such as BBN employing photonics for purposes of network security.