SCIENCE - Quantum dot commands light: A solid state ultrafast logic gate on a photon

If you could peek at the inner workings of a computer processor you would see billions of transistors switching back and forth between two states. In optical communications, information from the switches can be encoded onto light, which then travels long distances through glass fiber. Researchers are working to harness the quantum nature of light and semiconductors to expand the capabilities of computers in remarkable ways.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130401092650.ht