Exponential sums with continuous arguments, interference and factorization

We take advantage of the interesting connection between truncated exponential sums with continuous arguments (CTES) in number theory and interference in Physics in order to investigate the challenging problem of factoring large numbers. In particular we develop a novel method of factorization based on the use of an optical computer able to reproduce “CTES interferograms” by exploiting polychromatic interference. The scaling properties at the core of such “factoring” interferograms allows, in principle, the prime number decomposition of several large integers.