Abstract

The use of optical processors for fast numerical calculations has always been hampered by the inherent inaccuracies of analog optics. Numerous techniques have been proposed to overcome this deficiency. One of these, the Bimodal Optical Computer (BOC), proposed by Caulfield et al^[1], has generated considerable interest lately. The BOC (shown in fig.l) is a hybrid processor dedicated to solving a set of linear algebraic equations (LAE’s). It consists of an iterative optical processor that uses continuous analog feedback, coupled to a digital processor to ensure high accuracy through a process of iterative refinement.

© 1989 Optical Society of America