In a world of ever-improving computing hardware—both classical and quantum—one team of engineers is veering off the familiar path. And the unusual device, based on a century-old physics concept, appears to be surprisingly capable of addressing some difficult computing challenges.
The new device, described in a recent Nature paper, is specifically an Ising machine. Based on the physics model of the same name, the processor uses pulses of light instead of binary bits to find the best mathematical solutions to real-life problems, such as protein folding, cryptography, or traffic routing. It’s made of relatively accessible components, operates at room temperature, and can juggle billions of operations per second.
“This breakthrough shows that it is possible to build a practical and scalable machine that can tackle extremely difficult problems,” the researchers said in a statement.........
gizmodo.com
The new device, described in a recent Nature paper, is specifically an Ising machine. Based on the physics model of the same name, the processor uses pulses of light instead of binary bits to find the best mathematical solutions to real-life problems, such as protein folding, cryptography, or traffic routing. It’s made of relatively accessible components, operates at room temperature, and can juggle billions of operations per second.
“This breakthrough shows that it is possible to build a practical and scalable machine that can tackle extremely difficult problems,” the researchers said in a statement.........
Not Quantum, Not Classical: This Light-Based Computer Is Something Else Entirely
While it's no replacement for either computer, the new device is a powerful alternative for addressing some very practical challenges.
gizmodo.com