EMCORE Corp., a provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber optic and solar power markets, announced its EMCORE Connects Cables are used to connect Tianhe-1A, being called the world's most powerful super computer.

The Tianhe-1A system took the top spot as the world fastest super computer in TOP500.org’s most recent list. The accomplishment was made possible by EMCORE Connects Cables, which are high-speed interconnect active optical cables (AOCs) used in place of traditional copper cables. EMCORE's Connects Cables enable system architects to design larger and even more powerful super computers. The Tianhe-1A system uses several thousand of these optical cables.

EMCORE's Quad Data Rate (QDR) Connects Cables are a 40Gb/s cable product with Quad Small Form factor Pluggable (QSFP) electrical connectors. The smaller diameter and lower heat dissipation of the QDR cables enabled the Tianhe-1A to manage more efficiently overall power consumption and cooling resources, which are critical factors in high-performance computing system design.

“EMCORE pioneered the use of optical cables in high performance computing (HPC) seven years ago. Since then, EMCORE has been providing interconnect products enabling several of the world's fastest super computers,” says Chris Wiggins, director of marketing for EMCORE's Digital Fiber Products. “Additionally, EMCORE's QDR Connects Cables have experienced strong growth since we introduced the product earlier this year.”

EMCORE will demonstrate its Connects Cables at the Optical Fiber Conference in Los Angeles from March 8 through 10, at Booth 2125.