You might want to read about matroska brain - star and then galaxy sized sentient computer. Meaning a single individual would be and use the whole galaxy.
You don't need all your photons to get to the destination. Only some of them. And you can use error correcting methods to ensure they have a useful pattern when they arrive.
In theory you can manipulate atoms and molecules at a distance with light. So you can use a laser beam to construct a 3D printer at a distance. Rinse and repeat, and this is asymptotically expanding at c.
You might want to read about matroska brain - star and then galaxy sized sentient computer. Meaning a single individual would be and use the whole galaxy.
You don't need all your photons to get to the destination. Only some of them. And you can use error correcting methods to ensure they have a useful pattern when they arrive.
In theory you can manipulate atoms and molecules at a distance with light. So you can use a laser beam to construct a 3D printer at a distance. Rinse and repeat, and this is asymptotically expanding at c.