[citation][nom]DATA2[/nom]Not a bad idea, as a thought the back scatter light can also be used to carry information. Like multi-plexing , using fractal mathmatics this light can be captured and processed back into binary data.[/citation]
I believe, but don't quote me,that the issue before with back scatter was canceling out/distorting the data stream by changing the phase. The information in the system is probably in the back scatter and I imagine the closer the back scatter function is to random (and therefore the less information carried), the better the system works.
[citation][nom]demonhorde665[/nom]I agree, however photonic based comptuers wil totally make sense for some applications two words come to mind space exploration , one of the biggest hurdles to the space program is gettign newer tech that is reliable , and every thign i've read on photonic computing suggest it would take alot more punnishment than current transistor technologies.[/citation]
The barriers to space exploration (other than adequate funding) are in the short term a lack of Pu-238 (the only suitable nucleide) for the RTG's that power long range probes beyond practical solar power range, and, in the long term, cheap-which means reusable- ferry vehicles to orbit as well as better, perhaps more exotic engine technologies for faster and longer range travel so that probes can be sent more consistently and technological advance on earth can be maximized sooner (i.e. no 90's tech orbiting Jupiter in this decade). We desperately need to develop powerful and efficient designs that leverage the far greater energy storage of nuclear power for these applications. Computing solutions, as of right now, are perhaps the only non-barrier. Current technology is far more than powerful enough, can be made very energy efficient (especially compared to the other equipment on the mission), is resilient, and because it works 'in the background' is easy to shield from cosmic radiation. The sensitivity of the exposed sensor to cosmic radiation is far more of an engineering concern. Due to the specialized tasks (no or little multitasking, no rendering especially for probes) the computers aboard these missions probably need to be no more powerful than 1/10 of the processing power of an iPhone. Any legitimate number crunching analysis of the data can be done by supercomputers on earth once its beamed back.