High hopes have been maintained for decades concerning optical logic, optical switching matrices (e.g, for communications), and optical computing. The missing link in realizing this promise is a practical circuit element that allows one light to be turned on or off purely by application of another light to the device – rather like voltage on the control gate of a field effect transistor. This missing link has now been developed through a novel application of the complex behavior exhibited by coupled lasers.
via gizmag
