Highspeed computing using fiberoptics:
Using the formula
lambda = c / f
where c is the speed of light in m per sec (= 3E8 m)
and f the wavelength in m
we can calculate how many information quanta (ie. bits)
can be transmitted over a fiber medium.
The result is in Hz.
Let's do a calculation:
The wavelength 1510 nm is one of the standard wavelengths
used in todays fiber communications. This gives:
lambda = 3E8 / 1510E-9 = 198.675E12 = 198 THz
And this is the speed of just 1 dataline. For 64-bits one would
take 64 lines in parallel and this would yield of course 64 x 198 = 12672
THz.
The speed of todays 64-bit computers is say just about 5 GHz.
This means an optical computer would be about
x = 12672E12 / 5E9 = 2534400
times faster than todays computers.
Ie. 2.5 million times faster than todays computers.
Is this maths correct in principle?
