Device May Speed Up Computers: Bellcore, the...
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Device May Speed Up Computers: Bellcore, the research arm of the regional Bell companies, has created a laser-based “clock” that may allow computers to run 10 times faster. The device takes advantage of a laser’s ability to generate short, even pulses of light and optical fiber’s ability to carry light beams with almost no loss of power. Most computers contain an internal clock that sends out evenly spaced pulses, which signal the computer to execute the next command. But electronic timing devices and copper wire connections slow the pulses. In contrast, the Bellcore device’s fiber-optic connections offer little resistance to the pulses.
