Comments on: Deal brings optical connections to Sun supercomputer

Use of Luxtera's links in radical redesign for supercomputer is a step toward blending silicon and optical technology.
Photos: Supercomputers at SC05

[fiberguy2]

Speed of electrons?

Please confirm that the author of the article stated that electrons travel slower than photons.
I have been under the impression that both photons and electrons travel at the speed of light. The reason why the optical transmission is superior is that more bandwidth capacity exists in optical transmission designs versus copper based systems in the same time periods.

It's bandwidth not speed that makes the big difference.

Fiberguy2

[Johnny Mnemonic]

Light versus electrons

As I understand it, there is a propagation delay
as the heat increases in a device. Therefore,
electrons travelling through a conventional
electronic connection will travel slower than a
photon of light due to the heat generated.
Obviously, if the medium is a super-conductor,
there is no heat loss and thus you achieve the
theoretical maximum speed. The physics I leave
to others to explain.

[alek_nedic]

Go optical

http://www.analogstereo.com/cassette_deck_clarion.htm