Abstract

There is a need, particularly in optical computing applications, for an ultra high repetition rate, high power, modelocked laser source. A list of some available laser sources together with their repetition rates and single pulse energies is plotted in figure 1. The criteria used to determine the requirements for optical computing are based on currently available devices. A repetition rate of 1 GHz is required in order to compete with electronic computers as well as to make use of the optical advantage of using space and the speed of light as an optical random access memory.¹

© 1988 Optical Society of America