Abstract

Multiplexed volume holographic optical elements have potential application in optical memories, artificial neural networks, and optical interconnects, due to their potential for high data storage capacity, rapid parallel access, and in some cases, reconfiguration. In general, these applications require an array of object nodes, an array of input nodes, an array of output nodes, and a multiplexed volume hologram. In principle, each node in the 2-D input array can be fully connected to the nodes in the 2-D output array. However, several forms of crosstalk limit the practical storage capacity of such a volume hologram to a value below its theoretical limit. Two of the primary sources of crosstalk are grating (Bragg) degeneracy¹ and beam degeneracy.² Approaches that have been suggested to solve one or both forms of crosstalk either sacrifice interconnection density or ineffectively utilize space-bandwidth product, and in some cases are not practical for most holographic materials, including photore- fractives.

© 1994 Optical Society of America