Abstract

One of the challenges in developing practical optical information processing systems is the development of optical switching devices that dissipate minimal energy per operation and have good optical terminal characteristics for the intended application. One can find "all-optical" devices that require low switching energy but they lack large-signal gain and must therefore be operated with critical optical biases in a narrow region of differential gain. Optoelectronic devices, on the other hand, display large-signal optical gain but their-switching energies are at least as high as the best electronic circuits. Both the optoelectronic and the "all-optical" devices perform the functions of detection, logic, and modulation using electronic effects. These three functions, however, are physically separated in the optoelectronic devices.

© 1990 Optical Society of America