Abstract

The hybrid optical devices based on electrooptic feedback are operated at low optical power with a very wide range of wavelengths. Using these attractive features, various optical logics, flip-flops, and multistability are studied experimentally.^1,2 We report the theoretical and experimental results of the optical bistability, unistability, and decistability using a light emitting diode, a photodetector, and transistors with positive electrooptic feedback. Optical multistability is realized by a parallel combination of bistable devices with variable transition threshold levels. However, only one light emitting diode and one photodetector are required for multistability, and each stable state is incorporated by one transistor. The high-speed operation is achieved by nonsaturated operation of the transistors. These devices are very simple to integrate and may be used as a basic element of digital optical computers. For a 2-D array of the devices it is desirable to make use of surface emitting LEDs/LDs on one side of the array with photodetectors on the other side.

© 1987 Optical Society of America