"Light-Based Computing Inside Hair-Thin Optical Fiber"

Scientists at Heriot-Watt University have discovered a new method to program optical circuits using the natural scattering behavior of light inside hair-thin optical fibers, which are commonly used for internet data transmission. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in quantum technologies, such as unhackable communication networks and ultrafast quantum computers, by enabling precise engineering of optical circuits critical for processing vast amounts of data and manipulating quantum entanglement. The research, published in Nature Physics, demonstrates the potential for harnessing the power of light to unlock massive processing power and revolutionize computing technology.