<title>Potential application of optical phased arrays in two-photon three-dimensional optical memories</title>

Abstract

The potential use of optical phased arrays to address individual bits within a volumetric memory medium is examined by using phase sensitive ray tracing procedures. We demonstrate that a 200 element linear array with cylindrical microlens collimation is capable of addressing two-photon ((lambda) equals 1 micrometers ) activated irradiated volumes of approximately 64 micrometers 3, comparable to the volumetric elements that can be addressed via standard crossed-beam two-photon excitation. The two key advantages of using phased arrays is speed of addressing and the elimination of cleaning pulses. Both advantages dramatically improve read/write speeds as well as signal-to-noise performance of two-photon volumetric memories. We examine four different configurations including collimated linear and spherical arrays as well as binary and pure phased two-dimensional arrays. Although phased arrays with the necessary characteristics have not as yet been constructed, we hope that the present demonstration of their potential advantages will enhance interest in the development of phased arrays for application in volumetric memories.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.