Sun Micro also working on optical communication on and between chips, could make computers 1000 times faster

The US government has funded Sun Microcomputer research for optical on chip and between chip communication.

Recent coverage has NEC working on that as the key technology for 10 petaflop computers in 2010 and IBM as well for faster computers.

Sun believes it is high risk research with a 50% chance of success but that success means computers 1000 times faster.

IBM talks of making computers 100 times faster using 10 times less power