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Sun Banks on Lasers to Make Next Speed Leap

Using light, not wires, to connect chips could make computers 1,000 times faster

By Laila Weir,  Newser User

Posted Mar 24, 2008 1:49 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Sun Microsystems is moving toward connecting computer chips using lasers instead of wires, a move that could make computers 1,000 times faster. The company snagged a $44 million Pentagon contract to continue work that could also mean smaller, more energy-efficient machines. It won’t be easy, though: A Sun researcher told the New York Times the chance of success is 50%.

The capacity of the wires connecting chips currently limits the speed of data transmission; replacing wires with lasers would eliminate that bottleneck. Others are also looking to speed up the connections between chips. Last week, Japan’s NEC Corporation said it will use optical connections to make a supercomputer 20 times faster than current models.

The Pentagon is seen in this Sept. 11, 2002 photo. Sun won a $44 million Pentagon contract to explore connecting computer chips with lasers.
The Pentagon is seen in this Sept. 11, 2002 photo. Sun won a $44 million Pentagon contract to explore connecting computer chips with lasers.   (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Angela Stafford)
Exterior view of Sun Microsystems Inc. offices in Menlo Park, Calif., in this April 23, 2007 file photo.
Exterior view of Sun Microsystems Inc. offices in Menlo Park, Calif., in this April 23, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
An Sun Microsystems Inc. mouse pad, mouse, and keyboard is shown at Sun headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.
An Sun Microsystems Inc. mouse pad, mouse, and keyboard is shown at Sun headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Zebraone
Dec 11, 2008 3:36 AM CST
Finally!!!~~~ The idea is being made into a reality!~~~ Nano tech will be the saving grace yet!

NEC's super supercomputer
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Pentagon • Stanford • Intel • MIT • IBM • Sun Microsystems • computer chip • computer • University of California at San Diego • lasers • silicon photonics • NEC Corporation • Luxtera • Kotura • supercomputer • Hewlett-Packard

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