Factoring numbers with a single interferogram

Authors :: Wolfgang P. Schleich
Xuehua He
Heyi Zhang
Yanhua Shih
Augusto Garuccio
Vincenzo Tamma
Publication Year :: 2015
Publisher :: arXiv, 2015.
Abstract: We construct an analog computer based on light interference to encode the hyperbolic function f({\zeta}) = 1/{\zeta} 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.<br />Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures