Factorization of numbers with the temporal Talbot effect: optical implementation by a sequence of shaped ultrashort pulses.
We report on the successful operation of an analogue computer designed to factor numbers. Our device relies solely on the interference of classical light and brings together the field of ultrashort laser pulses with number theory. Indeed, the frequency component of the electric field corresponding to a sequence of appropriately shaped femtosecond pulses is determined by a Gauss sum which allows us to find the factors of a number.
Bigourd
Damien
D
Laboratoire de Collisions, Agrégats, Réactivité, IRSAMC (Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS) Toulouse, France.
Chatel
Béatrice
B
Schleich
Wolfgang P
WP
Girard
Bertrand
B