4		     Hi-Tech Applications of Light

                                   by
                          Prof J. A. Finnegan
                      Computer Science Department
                        Oceanview University, KS

The idea of communication by light over long distances (aka optical
tele-communication) is not new.  Fires lit on chains of mountain tops
and ship-to-ship light signaling are examples for early open-space
optical communication systems.  What is new is the ability to divert 
the light to flow in fibers.  New is also the fast modulation of light 
with information.

The basic idea is simple, using light reduces latency because light
travels fast.

COMMUNICATION APPLICATIONS

In digital binary communication the only symbols are 0 and 1.  Light
represents the 1s and 0s are represented by darkness.  In order to
reduce skew it is very important to minimize the disparity between
the speed of light (SoL) and the speed of darkness (SoD).  

Since SoL, in vacuum, is the fastest speed that physics allows, SoD<SoL
always holds.  SoD, like SoL, is different in different materials.

There is nothing moving Faster Than Light (FTL).  How about FTD?

Since light and darkness have different spectral properties (like wave
length, for example) SoL and SoD are not always identical.  Extra care
must be paid to match the properties of the various light amplifiers
with those of darkness amplifiers.  This disparity introduces skew
proportional to the fiber length.

Hence, skew may be reduced, but not eliminated.  If a fiber is long
enough then all the 1's will arrive before all the 0s.  This information
could be highly compressed into run-length encoding of the format
{N0,N1} where N0 is the number of 0s and N1 is the number of 1s.

All the receiver has to do is to rearrange these N0+N1 symbols into
their original sequence and voila! the communication is completed.

ENTERTAINMENT APPLICATIONS

Using fast optics allows to view the entire GONE WITH THE WIND in
just 3 seconds (assuming no eye blinking).  In recent tests subjects
demonstrated higher levels of retention for movies that were streamed
directly from fibers to their optic nerves, totally bypassing the
eyes and the retina.  These retention levels are much higher than what
was achieved by using the old fashioned way of viewing movies.

Such a fast review of movies may totally destroy the popcorn industry.

Scientists pursue a similar approach to inter-computer tele-communication
where fibers are directly connected to the optic nerves of the computer.
However, finding the optic nerves of most computers is still a very
challenging task.


MILITARY APPLICATIONS (for US citizens only)

The US Army has two dual problems:

	(+problem) Seeing the enemy at night time
	(-problem) Not being seen by the enemy at day time

The former problem, (+problem), has been traditionally solved by
selectively projecting light on the enemy by using Light Amplification
by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (Lasers) and augmenting it, if
needed, by narrowly focused Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).  Parabolic
reflectors help focusing the light where desired.

Progress on the latter problem, (-problem), was slow at first.  Recently
DARPA is funding a secret project, lead by Dr. Forest to render our
forces invisible to the enemy, at day time.  The project is so secret
that DARPA neither denys nor confirms its existence.  Because of the
secrecy of this project the readers of this document are requested not
to reveal it further.  Non-citizens should unread it.

The idea is rather simple, as with all ingenious ideas.  It was inspired
by active noise canceling headsets, and is based on similar principles.

The idea is to project darkness on our forces in such a way that
renders them invisible.  It is done by selectively projecting darkness
on our forces by using Darkness Amplification by Stimulated Emission of
Radiation (Dasers) and augmenting it, if needed, by narrowly focused
Darkness Emitting Diodes (DEDs).  Parabolic reflectors help focusing
the darkness where desired.

Dasers and DED are produced by tuning lasers and LEDs to the wavelength
of black.


CONCLUSIONS

Further research into the applications of optical systems is urgently needed.

[end]