On the computing power of arrays of processors with optical pipelined buses

This paper examines the computing power of optical parallel computer systems. We consider t proposed Array of Processors with optical Pipelined Buses (APPB) in particular, where processc communicate with each other via a spanning optical bus. APPB allow simultaneous access by multi] processors to the optical bus through message pipelining, thus overcoming the bottlenecks caused exclusive access when employing electronic buses. We give an overview of this model of paral computation, and then examine the computing power of APPB by demonstrating its capability to efficien emulate the CRCW PRAM model. We show that an APPB is almost as powerful as a CRCW PRAM. Tl is, an APPB can emulate a CRCW PRAM with only a small degradation in time performance.