Abstract

Because of the recent progress in the fabrication of both devices based on the Quantum Confined Stark effect and of Optical Logic Etalons (OLE), large arrays of optical input/optical output logic gates should soon be available. We show experimentally how to generate an array of equal beams from a single laser source as power supply beams for such arrays. The alignment of these arrays of power supply beams onto devices is demonstrated. As examples a 289 beam array is imaged onto an array of Optical Logic Etalons 1.5 microns in diameter and 4 microns apart and the operation of an integrated array of 36 Self Electro-optic Effect devices is shown. We also demonstrate the experimental implementation of a simple building block for an optical digital computer based on the use of such arrays. The system does a split and variable shift operation and includes ports for the loss-less input of the power supply array and for the output. The fitting together of these building blocks into a large system is discussed, along with the possible power of such a system.

© 1988 Optical Society of America