Abstract

Reconfigurable optical interconnection linking laser arrays and detector arrays plays a key role in optical computing. A generalized crossbar interconnection can be implemented using optical matrix-vector multiplication.¹ A spatial light modulator (SLM) can be used to reconfigure the interconnection pattern. For the case of N × N crossbar interconnection, such an architecture has an optical energy efficiency of 1/N. Recently, we proposed a new method of forming dynamic holograms inside a photorefractive crystal so that the hologram is capable of performing reconfigurable optical interconnection with a very high-energy efficiency.² In this new method, a small fraction of the incident beam is coupled out by using a beam splitter. This small fraction (called a probe beam) is expanded and passes through the SLM encoded with the desired interconnection pattern. The transmitted beam is then recombined with the main beam inside a photorefractive crystal. As a result of nonreciprocal energy coupling, almost all the energy in the main beam is transferred to the probe beam which carries the interconnection pattern. The result is a reconfigurable optical interconnection with broadcasting capability and high-energy efficiency.

© 1988 Optical Society of America