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Factoring numbers with a single interferogram

Vincenzo Tamma, Heyi Zhang, Xuehua He, Augusto Garuccio, Wolfgang P. Schleich, and Yanhua Shih
Phys. Rev. A 83, 020304(R) – Published 25 February 2011

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.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 25 April 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.83.020304

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Vincenzo Tamma1,2, Heyi Zhang1, Xuehua He1, Augusto Garuccio2,3, Wolfgang P. Schleich4, and Yanhua Shih1

  • 1Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, USA
  • 2Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Bari, IT-70100 Bari, Italy
  • 3INFN-Sezione di Bari, Bari, Italy
  • 4Institut für Quantenphysik, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 2 — February 2011

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