[CNET] -- In a development announced in the journal Nature Photonics, Intel is claiming "world record" performance in optical communications using silicon photonics -- based photo dectors are used to send and receive optical information, especially in very high-bandwidth applications like supercomputers. Intel says silicon photonics is essential for "ultra-fast transfer of data (in) future computers powered by many processor cores." The development is noticeable because it is based on silicon -- a readily available, low-cost material used in semicondutor chips ...