Optical Computing Hardware

Optical Computing Hardware provides information pertinent to the advances in the development of optical computing hardware. This book discusses the two application areas, namely, high-performance computing and high-throughput photonic switching. Organized into 11 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the requirements on hardware from s system perspective. This text then presents the self-electro-optic-effect devices (SPEED), the vertical-cavity-surface- emitting microlasers (VCSEL), and the vertical-to-surface transmission electrophotonic device (VSTEP). Other chapters consider the fundamental principles of the devices and their operation either as logic devices or for optical interconnection applications. This book discusses as well the planar optical microlens as an example of a refractive microlens of the gradient-index type and explains the diffractive optical elements. The final chapter describes a method for writing and reading optically in parallel from a three-dimensional matrix by means of two-photon interaction in photochromic organic materials. This book is a valuable resource for engineers, scientists, and researchers.

Contributors

Preface

Chapter I: Architectural Considerations for Optical Computing and Photonic Switching

1. High-Performance Processing Systems of the Future

2. A Model for System-Level Packaging

3. Fundamentals of Free-Space Digital Optics

4. A System Example

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 2: Self-Electro-Optic Effect Devices for Optical Information Processing

1. Introduction to Electroabsorption and SEEDs

2. Surface Normal Quantum Well Modulators

3. Self-Electro-Optic Effect Devices

4. Smart Pixels

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 3: Vertical-to-Surface Transmission Electrophotonic Devices

1. Introduction

2. VSTEP Concept and Motivations

3. LED-Mode p-n-p-n VSTEP

4. Laser-Mode Vertical Cavity VSTEP

5. Ultimate Performance Possibility

6. VSTEP Applications

7. Developing Applications Technologies

8. Conclusion

References

Chapter 4: Microlaser Devices for Optical Computing

1. Introduction

2. Optical Interconnects

3. Optical Logic Devices

4. Ultrasmail Microlasers

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 5: Physics of Planar Microlenses

1. Introduction

2. Planar Microlenses

3. Characterization of Planar Microlenses

4. Planar Microlenses with Swelled Structures

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 6: Diffractive Optical Elements for Optical Computers

1. Introduction

2. Fabrication of Diffractive Optical Elements

3. Theory of Diffractive Optical Elements

4. Applications of Diffractive Micro-Optics

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 7: Diffractive Microlenses Fabricated by Electron-Beam Lithography

1. Introduction

2. Basic Theory of Diffractive Microlenses

3. Fabrication by Electron-Beam Lithography

4. Optical Measurements

5. Conclusion

References

Chapter 8: Parallel Optical Interconnections

1. Optical Considerations in Free-Space Parallel Interconnects

2. Interconnects

3. Architectural Considerations

4. Designing with Imperfect Arrays

References

Chapter 9: Multiple Beamsplitters

1. Introduction

2. Applications

3. Panopticon

4. Performance Parameters

5. Image Plane Beamsplitters

6. Fresnel Plan Beamsplitters

7. Fourier Plane Beamsplitters

8. Beam Shaping

9. Noise

10. Chromatic Errors

11. Irregular Geometries

12. Conclusion

References

Chapter 10: Photorefractive Optical Interconnects

1. Introduction

2. Classification of Optical Interconnections

3. Photorefractive Effect

4. Interconnections Based on Passive Holographic Storage in Photorefractive Media

5. Interconnections Based on Photorefractive Energy Coupling

6. Interconnections Based on Photorefractive Phase Conjugation

7. Conclusion

References

Chapter 11 : Three-Dimensional Optical Storage Memory by Means of Two-Photon Interaction

1. Introduction

2. Persistent Hole Burning

3. Two-Photon Processes

4. Writing and Reading of Information in 3-D Space

5. 3-D Memory Materials

6. Sample Preparation and Spectra

7. Stability of Written Form

8. Stabilization of the Written Form

9. Fatigue

10. Dependence of Stability on Polymer Host

11. Conclusion

References

Index