For years, researchers have explored ways to use light for computing, seeking faster speeds and reduced energy consumption compared to conventional electronic systems. Optical computing, which relies on light instead of electricity for calculations, offers promising advantages like high parallelism and efficiency. However, implementing complex logic functions with light has been challenging, limiting its practical applications.

Now, researchers at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, along with the Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, have made a significant breakthrough in this field. As reported in Advanced Photonics, they have developed a large-scale optical programmable logic array (PLA) capable of handling complex computations. This optical PLA leverages parallel spectrum modulation to achieve an 8-input system, greatly enhancing the scope of optical logic operations.

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