Plasmonics and the parallel programming problem

Uzi Vishkin; Igor Smolyaninov; Chris Davis

doi:10.1117/12.698704

9 February 2007 Plasmonics and the parallel programming problem

Uzi Vishkin, Igor Smolyaninov, Chris Davis

Proceedings Volume 6477, Silicon Photonics II; 64770M (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.698704
Event: Integrated Optoelectronic Devices 2007, 2007, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

While many parallel computers have been built, it has generally been too difficult to program them. Now, all computers are effectively becoming parallel machines. Biannual doubling in the number of cores on a single chip, or faster, over the coming decade is planned by most computer vendors. Thus, the parallel programming problem is becoming more critical. The only known solution to the parallel programming problem in the theory of computer science is through a parallel algorithmic theory called PRAM. Unfortunately, some of the PRAM theory assumptions regarding the bandwidth between processors and memories did not properly reflect a parallel computer that could be built in previous decades. Reaching memories, or other processors in a multi-processor organization, required off-chip connections through pins on the boundary of each electric chip. Using the number of transistors that is becoming available on chip, on-chip architectures that adequately support the PRAM are becoming possible. However, the bandwidth of off-chip connections remains insufficient and the latency remains too high. This creates a bottleneck at the boundary of the chip for a PRAM-On-Chip architecture. This also prevents scalability to larger "supercomputing" organizations spanning across many processing chips that can handle massive amounts of data. Instead of connections through pins and wires, power-efficient CMOS-compatible on-chip conversion to plasmonic nanowaveguides is introduced for improved latency and bandwidth. Proper incorporation of our ideas offer exciting avenues to resolving the parallel programming problem, and an alternative way for building faster, more useable and much more compact supercomputers.

Citation Download Citation

Uzi Vishkin, Igor Smolyaninov, and Chris Davis "Plasmonics and the parallel programming problem", Proc. SPIE 6477, Silicon Photonics II, 64770M (9 February 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.698704

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