Novel Devices for All-Optical Computing
Abstract
Two novel nonlinear optics devices for serial processing of optical information were investigated. The first-generation devices were all-optical switches in guided wave formats, nonlinear directional couplers and optically tuneable gratings. Waveguides were fabricated in semiconductor-doped glass. For the first time, picosecond switching was demonstrated in a nonlinear directional coupler, a device that is useful for implementing optical logic switching. Multiple gratings also were fabricated in nonlinear thin film InSb antimonide waveguides and their nonlinear responses were studied. Input grating couplers exhibited a bistable response suitable for optical logic. The reflection and transmission coefficients of a nonlinear distributed feedback grating depend on the incident guided wave beam power. For a weak beam near the Bragg condition, the grating reflectivity was tuned by a strong beam far off the Bragg condition. Finally, the combination of a nonlinear grating input coupler and a nonlinear distributed feedback grating led to bistability at greatly reduced input power levels. (RRH)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA230323
Entities
People
- G. I. Stegeman
Organizations
- University of Arizona