Parallel Computing Using Optical Interconnections

Advances in optical technologies have made it possible to implement optical interconnections in future massively parallel processing systems. Photons are non-charged particles, and do not naturally interact. Consequently, there are many desirable characteristics of optical interconnects, e.g. high speed (speed of light), increased fanout, high bandwidth, high reliability, longer interconnection lengths, low power requirements, and immunity to EMI with reduced crosstalk. Optics can utilize free-space interconnects as well as guided wave technology, neither of which has the problems of VLSI technology mentioned above. Optical interconnections can be built at various levels, providing chip-to-chip, module-to-module, board-to-board, and node-to-node communications. Massively parallel processing using optical interconnections poses new challenges; new system configurations need to be designed, scheduling and data communication schemes based on new resource metrics need to be investigated, algorithms for a wide variety of applications need to be developed under the novel computation models that optical interconnections permit, and so on. Parallel Computing Using Optical Interconnections is a collection of survey articles written by leading and active scientists in the area of parallel computing using optical interconnections. This is the first book which provides current and comprehensive coverage of the field, reflects the state of the art from high-level architecture design and algorithmic points of view, and points out directions for further research and development.

Optical media are now widely used in the telecommunication networks, and the evolution of optical and optoelectronic technologies tends to show that their wide range of techniques could be successfully introduced in shorter-distance interconnection systems. This book bridges the existing gap between research in optical interconnects and research in high-performance computing and communication systems, of which parallel processing is just an example. It also provides a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of optics as applied to high-speed communications. Audience: The book will be a vital resource for researchers and graduate students of optical interconnects, computer architectures and high-performance computing and communication systems who wish to understand the trends in the newest technologies, models and communication issues in the field.

This text covers the subjects of computer architecture and parallel and high-performance computing.

Contains papers from the October 1996 conference focusing on the potentials and impacts that optical interconnections can have on massively parallel processing. Offers sections on comparative studies for optical interconnects, interconnection networks and system architectures, WDM in MPP systems, tradeoffs in intra-system optical interconnects, scalable interconnection networks, architecture issues, guided-wave components for optical interconnects, and multiprocessor networks and systems. Includes discussion of the roles of university and industry in developing systems. For researchers in computer science, engineering, and optics. No index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

Annotation Offers eight invited lectures by contributors from academia and industry in the fields of parallel computer systems, optical interconnections, and technology; two panel discussions; and 34 papers by contributors from throughout the world. In addition to reporting on recent advances in the field, they speculate on how optical interconnections might impact the design of parallel computer systems and communication networks, and the writing of applications and algorithms. Among the topics are reconfigurable architectures, embedding and mapping of applications and algorithms, the packaging and layout of optical interconnections, passive optical elements, data distribution and partitioning, and cost/performance studies. No subject index. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

The ability of parallel computing to process large data sets and handle time-consuming operations has resulted in unprecedented advances in biological and scientific computing, modeling, and simulations. Exploring these recent developments, the Handbook of Parallel Computing: Models, Algorithms, and Applications provides comprehensive coverage on a

As computing devices proliferate, demand increases for an understanding of emerging computing paradigms and models based on natural phenomena. Neural networks, evolution-based models, quantum computing, and DNA-based computing and simulations are all a necessary part of modern computing analysis and systems development. Vast literature exists on these new paradigms and their implications for a wide array of applications. This comprehensive handbook, the first of its kind to address the connection between nature-inspired and traditional computational paradigms, is a repository of case studies dealing with different problems in computing and solutions to these problems based on nature-inspired paradigms. The "Handbook of Nature-Inspired and Innovative Computing: Integrating Classical Models with Emerging Technologies" is an essential compilation of models, methods, and algorithms for researchers, professionals, and advanced-level students working in all areas of computer science, IT, biocomputing, and network engineering.