Factoring numbers with a single interferogram

Vincenzo Tamma, Heyi Zhang, Xuehua He, Augusto Garuccio, Wolfgang P. Schleich, Yanhua Shih

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We construct an analog computer based on light interference to encode the hyperbolic function f(ζ)≡1/ζ into a sequence of skewed curlicue functions. The resulting interferogram when scaled appropriately allows us to find the prime number decompositions of integers. We implement this idea exploiting polychromatic optical interference in a multipath interferometer and factor seven-digit numbers. We give an estimate for the largest number that can be factored by this scheme.
Original languageEnglish
Article number020304(R)
JournalPhysical Review A
Volume83
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

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