On 12/04/2011 07:46 PM, Darren New wrote:
> On 4/12/2011 11:33, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>> The article linked claims that materials with a "non-linear refractive
>> index" can be used to make signals interact.
>
> Guess what causes something to have a non-linear refractive index?
> Electrons.

I'll take your word for it. ;-)

>> No, I mean like if component A needs to be connected to component Z at
>> the
>> other end of the die, you could stick in an optical link, rather than
>> trying
>> to route a trace the entire way across the die. And doing so might be
>> a big
>> win in terms of signal propogation speed, capacitance, etc.
>
> Maybe. But you still have to convert it from electronics to light and
> back again.

Indeed. A hybrid optical-electronic IC looks far more plausible to me 
than a purely optical one.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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