Benjamin W. Butler | Searcharxiv

arXiv2026

Novel models of computation from novel physical substrates: a bosonic example

Unconventional physical computing is producing many novel and exotic devices that can potentially be used in a computational mode. Currently, these tend to be used to implement traditional models of computation, such as boolean logic circuits, or neuromorphic approaches. This runs the risk of failing to exploit the devices to their full potential. Here we describe a methodology for deriving a model of computation and domain specific language more closely matched to a given physical device's capabilities, and illustrate it with a case study of bosonic computing as implemented by a physical multi-component interferometer.

cs.ET↗

arXiv2024

The Faraday Effect as a Two-State Quantum Process

We show that the Faraday effect can be derived from a simple two-state model. This approach uses a quantized electromagnetic field and does not make reference to differences in refractive indices of left- and right-circularly polarized light. Instead it treats the effect as a forward Rayleigh scattering process between two orthogonal modes of the quantized field, and thus emphasises the quantum-mechanical aspects of the phenomenon.

quant-ph↗