Abstract

We Show that a Young's N-slit interferometer can be used to factor the integer N. When the number of slits is a product of integer factors, then an analysis of the diffraction pattern can be used to determine these factors. This work provides a simple example of number theory's appearance in physics, and can be helpful in understanding the advantages of quantum-digital over classical-analog computers in handling integer factoring problems.

© 1996 Optical Society of America