Free-Space Optical Hardware

Abstract

Free-space digital optics is a topic based on many disciplines: nonlinear optics, computer and switching network architectural design, semiconductor physics, mechanical design, and, of course, optical system design. Initial work in this area concentrated on the discovery and development of nonlinear optical effects with which to form optical switching devices or logic gates. Progress on the device front stimulated research on switching and computing architectures to capitalize on the potential advantages of free-space digital optics. However, without arrays of practical devices, realistic demonstrations of these architectures were not possible. With the development of batch-fabricated symmetric SEEDs, nonlinear interference filters, and liquid-crystal and magneto-optic spatial light modulators, more complex system experiments became possible.(1–5) The demonstration of these experiments required careful attention to the optical and opto-mechanical system design, in addition to significant device and architectural research.