Light-Based Computer Solves Optimization Problems with Ease

Imagine a computer that uses light to solve complex optimization problems, a concept that's been around for a century but has finally been made practical.

TL;DR
• The new Ising machine uses pulses of light to solve optimization problems.
• It's a practical alternative to supercomputers and quantum computers for specific tasks.
• The machine is highly optimized and operates at room temperature.

Summary
A team of engineers has developed a new device called an Ising machine, which uses pulses of light to solve complex optimization problems. This device is based on a century-old physics concept and is capable of processing billions of operations per second. It operates at room temperature and is made of relatively accessible components, such as standard lasers, fiber-optic cables, and modulators. The Ising machine is highly optimized for specific applications, including protein folding, cryptography, and traffic routing, but is not intended to be a general computing device.

The device works by representing problems as a collection of interacting magnets whose spins point up or down. Over time, this collection of magnets naturally falls into an equilibrium that represents the lowest possible energy state, which translates into the most efficient solution to optimization problems. The team built the system using five basic components to achieve 256 spins (65,536 couplings), allowing it to process billions of operations per second.

Key insights include:
• The Ising machine can tackle extremely difficult problems that are challenging for classical computers.
• It operates at room temperature, unlike quantum computers and supercomputers that require extremely cold temperatures.
• The device is highly optimized for specific applications, such as optimization problems.
• The team plans to develop pilot projects with industry partners to see how the machine can address real-world optimization problems.

The practicality of scaling and operating the new system holds great potential for the problems it is good at solving. However, it is not meant to replace supercomputers and quantum computers, but rather serve as a powerful alternative for addressing some very practical challenges.

The Ising machine's ability to solve optimization problems using light pulses opens up new possibilities for practical applications, but its limitations must be carefully considered.