Design of digital–optical processors by using both intensity and polarization–encoding schemes

Abstract

Here we propose two encoding schemes that utilize both light intensity and polarization to code input data in digital-optical computing. This approach results in a more efficient information carrying and processing technique when compared with the traditional intensity-only or polarization-only encoding schemes. Optical logic units that are based on the proposed encoding schemes are designed. A recursive parallel adder and a carry look-ahead adder that use these logic units as building blocks are also described.