Squeezing light into a tiny channel brings optical computing a step closer

By forcing light to go through a smaller gap than ever before, researchers have paved the way for computers based on light instead of electronics. Light is desirable for use in computing because it can carry a higher density of information and is much faster and more efficient than conventional electronics. However, light does not easily interact with itself, so while it can be used to move information quickly, it is not very good at processing information. This research has ticked one of the boxes needed for optical computing. Dr Michael Nielsen For example, light is currently used to transfer information over long distances, such as in transatlantic cables and fibre optics, which deliver fast internet. However, once the information reaches your computer, electronics are needed to convert and process it. In order to use light for processing on microchips, several important obstacles need to be overcome.