Surface-emitting laser-based smart pixels for two-dimensional optical logic and reconfigurable optical interconnections

Author

Cheng, Julian ; Zhou, Ping ; Sun, S.Z. ; Hersee, S. ; Myers, D.R. ; Zolper, J. ; Vawter, G.A.

Author_Institution

Center for High Technol. Mater., New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM, USA

Volume

29

Issue

2

fYear

1993

fDate

2/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

741

Lastpage

756

Abstract

A monolithic smart pixel technology based on the integration of two-dimensional arrays of cascadable optical switches, optical logic gates, and optical switching nodes consisting of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and heterojunction phototransistors or photothyristors is described. Different combinations of these components perform optical switching, logic, routing, memory, and regeneration. Latching, nonlatching, and bistable switches with high optical gain and contrast are demonstrated, along with all the simple single-stage Boolean optical logic functions. A 2×2 optical bypass-exchange node and a reconfigurable, multistage, two-dimensional optical switching network architecture are also described

Keywords

integrated optoelectronics; optical bistability; optical interconnections; optical logic; optical switches; phototransistors; semiconductor lasers; thyristors; 2 by 2 node; 2×2 optical bypass-exchange node; VCSEL; bistable switches; cascadable optical switches; contrast; heterojunction phototransistors; high optical gain; integration; latching switches; memory; monolithic smart pixel technology; nonlatching switches; optical switching nodes; photothyristors; reconfigurable multistage 2D switching network; reconfigurable optical interconnections; regeneration; routing; single-stage Boolean optical logic functions; two-dimensional arrays; two-dimensional optical logic; vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers; Integrated optics; Logic arrays; Logic gates; Optical arrays; Optical bistability; Optical fiber networks; Optical switches; Smart pixels; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.199326

Filename

199326