The Design of an Optical Digital Computer

Abstract

Because of the recent progress in the fabrication of both devices based on the Quantum Confined Stark effect and of Optical Logic Etalons (OLE), large arrays of optical input/optical output logic gates should soon be available. We show experimentally how to generate an array of equal beams from a single laser source as power supply beams for such arrays. The alignment of these arrays of power supply beams onto devices is demonstrated. As examples a 289 beam array is imaged onto an array of Optical Logic Etalons 1.5 microns in diameter and 4 microns apart and the operation of an integrated array of 36 Self Electro-optic Effect devices is shown. We also demonstrate the experimental implementation of a simple building block for an optical digital computer based on the use of such arrays. The system does a split and variable shift operation and includes ports for the loss-less input of the power supply array and for the output. The fitting together of these building blocks into a large system is discussed, along with the possible power of such a system.