Optical Computer

An optical computer is a type of computer that uses photons or light waves to perform computations. Optical computers are used extensively by modern humanity as an efficient way to switch network packets and perform power efficient parallel calculations; however, most importantly; they form the basis for the synthetic intelligence core, the medium on which all synthetic intelligences run. Most modern computers and PDAs are also now fitted with optical processing units (OPUs), which act as coprocessors that can offload tasks usually delegated to a GPU in a much more power efficient manner. The largest manufacturer of optical computers is CORE Foundries.

Optical computers are extremely precise instruments and as such must be very carefully temperature controlled. With an optical computer, it is far less about removing heat generated by the computer itself and more about ensuring a stable reference temperature for the optical die in the face of changing environmental conditions. For this reason, optical computers are frequently held under a vacuum and cryogenically cooled, though they do not require the same level of cryogenic cooling as a quantum computer. This environment control element is of great safety concern for synthetics.