Abstract:

Optical computing is a novel computing system based on optical unit which uses light as a primary means for information transmission and has a specific computing function. Compared with the traditional electronic computing technology, it has the advantages such as high speed, low energy consumption and high parallelism. However, there are several challenges on its way to widely commercial application, such as achieving device integration, miniaturization and portability. In recent years, with the rapid development of related technologies such as the silicon-based optoelectronic integration technology and the quantum technology, optical computing is expected to become a promising technical path to meet the urgent needs of high computing performance and low energy consumption brought by the development of artificial intelligence. Thus, it has become a research focus. First, this paper introduces the principle and development trend of the main technical paths of optical computing. Then, it analyzes the industrialization process of optical computing, the main application fields and existing challenges. Finally, it proposes the main development direction in the future.

Key words: heterogeneous computing, photoelectron, accelerators