Theory, design, and micron-scale implementation of fully optical logic gates and optical clock circuits

Abstract

In this paper, it is tried to provide an innovative method to overcome several limitations of state of the art of logical gates and microprocessors, by implementation of micron-scaled optical gates. This technology can overcome such limitations, i.e. processing speed, heat dissipation, electromagnetic radiation and electrical noise immunity. This technology can be fully or partially feasible by substitution of common semiconductor technology with optical logic gates. By implementation of micron-scale optical fiber, optical couplers, fiber optical amplifiers, or fiber lasers, optical attenuators, optical fiber brag grating, femto-second optical lasers, and implementation of fundamental properties of optical coherent light, e.g. superposition, interference, phase delay, etc, it is possible to fabricate micron-scale universal logical gates, i.e. optical NAND gates, optical NOR gates, optical Exclusive-OR, optical exclusive-NOR gates and subsequently fabrication of sequential circuits (optical flip-flops), that all are fundamental blocks of microprocessors. Optical coherent light is produced by femtosecond lasers and is supplied to a network of micron-scaled fiber optics, fiber optical lasers, attenuators, fiber optical couplers, and finally are supplied to opto-couplers that change optical signals to electrical signals to be read by output console or to be written on memory cells. It is also possible to implement a combination of optical and semiconductor gates to decrease above mentioned limitations. The method of fabrication of optical gates is discussed in details and all necessary logical and technical aspects are provided too. The fundamental implemented aspect is superposition of coherent lights in fiber optic couplers. By implementation of femtosecond laser pulses, it is possible to reach to much higher frequencies of about hundreds to thousands of terahertz. Alternative optical method is provided here, e.g. implementation of fiber loops as clock circuit or even as an optical oscillator. By implementation of this technology, there will be one hundred years advance in respect to state of the art technology.