Abstract

This paper describes a four-dimensional (4-D) optical-interconnect architecture that has the potential to provide much larger numbers of interconnects than can be achieved with electronics. Many applications require more interconnections than can be realized by using electronics (approximately equal to those of a stupid honeybee). For example, vision applications, including infrared search and track, may require more than 10¹⁰ interconnects and 10¹³ interconnects per second. This interconnect architecture makes use of holographic interconnects stored in spectral-hole-burning (SHB) materials. The use of holography and spectral selectivity provides access to the fundamental capacity of the material to achieve a large storage capacity of interconnect values. In addition to the three spatial dimensions available with volume holographic techniques, a fourth independent dimension, laser frequency, is available. Information can be stored and read independently at many laser wavelengths in SHB materials. Our 4-D interconnect concept provides a way to fold the access to the four spectral and spatial dimensions into a compact package. The use of four independent dimensions allows implementation of a completely general 2-D-to-2-D interconnect, which makes optimum use of the space-bandwidth product of the spatial light modulators that supply the input and training patterns.

© 1990 Optical Society of America