DOCSLIB.ORG

Optical Computing

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Optical Computing Optical Computing Adwait R. Pande & S. M. Gulhane Dept. of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, J.D.I.E.T. Yavatmal, India E-mail : [email protected], [email protected] Abstract – Today's computers use the movement of improved computing capabilities is desirable. Optical electrons in-and-out of transistors to do logic. Optical or computing includes the optical calculation of transforms Photonic computing is intended to use photons or light and optical pattern matching. Emerging technologies particles, produced by lasers or diodes, in place of also make the optical storage of data a reality. electrons. Compare to electrons, photons are much faster – light travels about 30 cm, or one foot, in a nanosecond – The speed of computers was achieved by and have a higher bandwidth. miniaturizing electronic components to a very small Most research projects focus on replacing current micron-size scale, but they are limited not only by the computer components with optical equivalents, resulting in speed of electrons in matter (Einstein‟s principle that an optical digital computer system processing binary data. signals cannot propagate faster than the speed of light) This approach appears to offer best short-term prospects but also by the increasing density of interconnections for commercial optical computing, since optical necessary to link the electronic gates on microchips. The components could be integrated into traditional computers optical computer comes as a solution of miniaturization to produce an optical (or) electronic hybrid. However, problem. In an optical computer, electrons are replaced optoelectronic devices lose 30% of their energy converting by photons, the subatomic bits of electromagnetic electrons into photons and back. This also slows down transmission of messages. All-optical computers eliminate radiation that make up light. Optics, which is the science the need for optical-electrical-optical (OEO) conversions. of light, is already used in computing, most often in the fibre-optic glass cables that currently transmit data on I. INTRODUCTION communication networks much faster than via traditional copper wires. Thus, optical signals might be With today‟s growing dependence on computing the ticket for the fastest supercomputers ever. Compared technology, the need for high performance computers to light, electronic signals in chips travel at snail speed. (HPC) has significantly increased. Many performance Moreover, there is no such thing as a short circuit with improvements in conventional computers are achieved light, so beams could cross with no problem after being by miniaturizing electronic components to very small redirected by pinpoint-size mirrors in a switchboard. In micron-size scale so that electrons need to travel only a pursuit to probe into cutting-edge research areas, short distances within a very short time. This approach optical technology (optoelectronic, photonic devices)is relies on the steadily shrinking trace size on microchips one of the most promising, and may eventually lead to (i.e. the size of elements that can be „drawn‟ onto each new computing applications as a consequence of faster chip). This has resulted in the development of Very processor speeds, as well as better connectivity and Large Scale Integration (VLSI) technology with smaller higher bandwidth. device dimensions and greater complexity. The smallest dimensions of VLSI nowadays are about 0.08 mm. II. LITERATURE REVIEW Despite the incredible progress in the development and refinement of the basic technologies over the past The “ancient” history of optical computing is linked decade, there is growing concern that these technologies to that of radar systems. Optical computing system may not be capable of solving the computing problems received a great push from the invention of laser in of even the current millennium. Applications of HPC 1960.In 1960s the first schemes for all-optical digital and visualization technologies lead to breakthroughs in computers were proposed. In 1990s emphasis has engineering and manufacturing in a wide range of shifted to optical interconnection of arrays of industries. With the help of virtual product design and semiconductor smart pixels. development, costs can be reduced; hence looking for ISSN (Print) : 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-4, 2013 147 International Journal of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, (IJAEEE) In most modern computers, electrons travel was achieved by miniaturizing electronic components to between transistor switches on metal wires or traces to a very small micron-size scale, but they are limited not gather process and store information. The optical only by the speed of electrons in matter but also by the computers of the future will instead use photons increasing density of interconnections necessary to link traveling on optical fibers or thin films to perform these the electronic gates on microchips. functions. But entirely optical computer systems are still The optical computer comes as a solution of far into the future. Right now scientists are focusing on miniaturizing problem. Optical data processing can developing hybrids by combining electronics with perform several operations in parallel much faster and photonics. Electro-optic hybrids were first made easier than electrons. This parallelism helps in possible around 1978, when researchers realized that staggering computational power. For example a photons could respond to electrons through certain calculation that takes a conventional electronic media such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3). computer more than 11 years to complete could be Extreme miniaturization of tiny electronic performed by an optical computer in a single hour. Any components leads to „cross-talk‟ – signal errors that way we can realize that in an optical computer, electrons affect the system‟s reliability. Light does not have the are replaced by photons, the subatomic bits of time response limitations of electronics, does not need electromagnetic radiation that make up light. insulators, and can even send dozens or hundreds of SOME KEY OPTICAL COMPONENTS FOR photon signal streams simultaneously using different COMPUTING colour frequencies. Those are immune to electromagnetic interference, and free from electrical The major breakthroughs on optical computing short circuits. They have low-loss transmission and have been centered on the development of micro-optic provide large bandwidth; i.e. multiplexing capability, devices for data input. capable of communicating several channels in parallel 1. VCSEL (VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE without interference. They are capable of propagating EMITTING LASER) signals within the same or adjacent fibres with essentially no interference or cross talk. They are VCSEL (pronounced „vixel‟) is a semiconductor compact, lightweight, and inexpensive to manufacture, vertical cavity surface emitting laser diode that emits as well as more facile with stored information than light in a cylindrical beam vertically from the surface of magnetic materials. By replacing electrons and wires a fabricated wafer, and offers significant advantages with photons, fibre optics, crystals, thin films and when compared to the edge-emitting lasers currently mirrors, researchers are hoping to build a new used in the majority of fiber optic communications generation of computers that work 100million times devices. The principle involved in the operation of a faster than today‟s machines. VCSEL is very similar to those of regular lasers. III. NEED FOR OPTICAL COMPUTING There are two special semiconductor materials sandwiching an active layer where all the action takes The need for optical technology stems from the fact place. But rather than reflective ends, in a VCSEL there that today‟s computers are limited by the time response are several layers of partially reflective mirrors above of electronic circuits. A solid transmission medium and below the active layer. Layers of semiconductors limits both the speed and volume of signals, as well as with differing compositions create these mirrors, and building up heat that damages components. each mirror reflects a narrow range of wavelengths back in to the cavity in order to cause light emission at just One of the theoretical limits on how fast a computer one wavelength. can function is given by Einstein‟s principle that signal cannot propagate faster than speed of light. So to make computers faster, their components must be smaller and there by decrease the distance between them. This has resulted in the development of very large scale integration (VLSI) technology, with smaller device dimensions and greater complexity. The smallest dimensions of VLSI nowadays are about 0.08mm. Despite the incredible progress in the development and refinement of the basic technologies over the past decade, there is growing concern that these technologies may not be capable of solving the computing problems Fig. (a) VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting LASER) of even the current millennium. The speed of computers (b) VCSEL Wafer ISSN (Print) : 2278-8948, Volume-2, Issue-4, 2013 148 International Journal of Advanced Electrical and Electronics Engineering, (IJAEEE) 2. SLM (SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATORS) again passed through a pair of lenses and sent to a photodiode. This photodiode convert the optical signal SLM play an important role in several technical back to the electrical signal. areas where the control of light on a pixel-by-pixel basis is a key element, such as optical processing and displays.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Denys I. Bondar
    Updated on July 15, 2020 Denys I. Bondar Assistant Professor, Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Tulane University, 2001 Percival Stern Hall, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 70118 office: 4031 Percival Stern Hall e-mail: [email protected] phone: +1 (504) 862 8701 web: Google Scholar, Research Gate, ORCiD Education Ph. D. in Physics 01/2007{12/2010 Department of Physics and Astronomy, • University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Ph. D. thesis [arXiv:1012.5334]: supervisor: Misha Yu. Ivanov; co-supervisor: Wing-Ki Liu M. Sc. and B. Sc. in Physics with Honors 09/2001{06/2006 • Uzhgorod National University, Uzhgorod, Ukraine B. Sc. in Computer Science 09/2001{06/2006 • Transcarpathian State University, Uzhgorod, Ukraine Awards, Grants, and Scholarships Young Faculty Award DARPA 2019{2021 Army Research Office (ARO) grant W911NF-19-1-0377 2019{2021 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) 2018 Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers 2017-2020 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program 2016-2019 Los Alamos Director's Fellowship (declined) 2013 President's Graduate Scholarship (University of Waterloo) 2010 Ontario Graduate Scholarship 2010 International Doctoral Student Awards (University of Waterloo) 2007-2010 Award of Recognition at the All-Ukrainian Contest of Students' Scientific Works 2006 Current Research Interests • Quantum technology • Optics including quantum, ultrafast, nonlinear, and incoherent • Optical communication and sensing • Nonequilibrium quantum statistical mechanics 1 • Many-body
    [Show full text]
  • Nanosystems, Edge Computing, and the Next Generation Computing Systems
    sensors Review Nanosystems, Edge Computing, and the Next Generation Computing Systems Ali Passian * and Neena Imam Computing & Computational Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 30 July 2019; Accepted: 16 September 2019; Published: 19 September 2019 Abstract: It is widely recognized that nanoscience and nanotechnology and their subfields, such as nanophotonics, nanoelectronics, and nanomechanics, have had a tremendous impact on recent advances in sensing, imaging, and communication, with notable developments, including novel transistors and processor architectures. For example, in addition to being supremely fast, optical and photonic components and devices are capable of operating across multiple orders of magnitude length, power, and spectral scales, encompassing the range from macroscopic device sizes and kW energies to atomic domains and single-photon energies. The extreme versatility of the associated electromagnetic phenomena and applications, both classical and quantum, are therefore highly appealing to the rapidly evolving computing and communication realms, where innovations in both hardware and software are necessary to meet the growing speed and memory requirements. Development of all-optical components, photonic chips, interconnects, and processors will bring the speed of light, photon coherence properties, field confinement and enhancement, information-carrying capacity, and the broad spectrum of light into the high-performance computing, the internet of things, and industries related to cloud, fog, and recently edge computing. Conversely, owing to their extraordinary properties, 0D, 1D, and 2D materials are being explored as a physical basis for the next generation of logic components and processors. Carbon nanotubes, for example, have been recently used to create a new processor beyond proof of principle.
    [Show full text]
  • Advances in Photonic Devices Based on Optical Phase-Change Materials
    molecules Review Advances in Photonic Devices Based on Optical Phase-Change Materials Xiaoxiao Wang 1, Huixin Qi 1, Xiaoyong Hu 1,2,3,*, Zixuan Yu 1, Shaoqi Ding 1, Zhuochen Du 1 and Qihuang Gong 1,2,3 1 Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter & Frontiers Science Center for Nano-Optoelectronics, State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics & Department of Physics, Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; [email protected] (X.W.); [email protected] (H.Q.); [email protected] (Z.Y.); [email protected] (S.D.); [email protected] (Z.D.); [email protected] (Q.G.) 2 Peking University Yangtze Delta Institute of Optoelectronics, Nantong 226010, China 3 Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Phase-change materials (PCMs) are important photonic materials that have the advantages of a rapid and reversible phase change, a great difference in the optical properties between the crystalline and amorphous states, scalability, and nonvolatility. With the constant development in the PCM platform and integration of multiple material platforms, more and more reconfigurable photonic devices and their dynamic regulation have been theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated, showing the great potential of PCMs in integrated photonic chips. Here, we review the recent developments in PCMs and discuss their potential for photonic devices. A universal overview of the mechanism of the phase transition and models of PCMs is presented. PCMs have injected new life into on-chip photonic integrated circuits, which generally contain an optical switch, Citation: Wang, X.; Qi, H.; Hu, X.; an optical logical gate, and an optical modulator.
    [Show full text]
  • Optical Memristive Switches
    J Electroceram DOI 10.1007/s10832-017-0072-3 Optical memristive switches Ueli Koch1 & Claudia Hoessbacher1 & Alexandros Emboras1 & Juerg Leuthold1 Received: 18 September 2016 /Accepted: 6 February 2017 # The Author(s) 2017. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Optical memristive switches are particularly inter- signals. Normally, the operation speed is moderate and in esting for the use as latching optical switches, as a novel op- the MHz range. The application range includes usage as a tical memory or as a digital optical switch. The optical new kind of memory which can be electrically written and memristive effect has recently enabled a miniaturization of optically read, or usage as a latching switch that only needs optical devices far beyond of what seemed feasible. The to be triggered once and that can keep the state with little or no smallest optical – or plasmonic – switch has now atomic scale energy consumption. In addition, they represent a new logical andinfactisswitchedbymovingsingleatoms.Inthisreview, element that complements the toolbox of optical computing. we summarize the development of optical memristive The optical memristive effect has been discovered only switches on their path from the micro- to the atomic scale. recently [1]. It is of particular interest because of strong Three memristive effects that are important to the optical field electro-optical interaction with distinct transmission states are discussed in more detail. Among them are the phase tran- and because of low power consumption and scalability [8]. sition effect, the valency change effect and the electrochemical Such devices rely in part on exploiting the electrical metallization.
    [Show full text]
  • Optical Computing: a 60-Year Adventure Pierre Ambs
    Optical Computing: A 60-Year Adventure Pierre Ambs To cite this version: Pierre Ambs. Optical Computing: A 60-Year Adventure. Advances in Optical Technologies, 2010, 2010, pp.1-15. 10.1155/2010/372652. hal-00828108 HAL Id: hal-00828108 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00828108 Submitted on 30 May 2013 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Advances in Optical Technologies Volume 2010, Article ID 372652, 15 pages doi:10.1155/2010/372652 Research Article Optical Computing: A 60-Year Adventure Pierre Ambs Laboratoire Mod´elisation Intelligence Processus Syst`emes, Ecole Nationale Sup´erieure d’Ing´enieurs Sud Alsace, Universit´e de Haute Alsace, 12 rue des Fr`eres Lumi`ere, 68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France Correspondence should be addressed to Pierre Ambs, [email protected] Received 15 December 2009; Accepted 19 February 2010 Academic Editor: Peter V. Polyanskii Copyright © 2010 Pierre Ambs. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Optical computing is a very interesting 60-year old field of research.
    [Show full text]
  • Extending the Road Beyond CMOS
    By James A. Hutchby, George I. Bourianoff, Victor V. Zhirnov, and Joe E. Brewer he quickening pace of MOSFET technology scaling, as seen in the new 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors [1], is ac- celerating the introduction of many new technologies to extend CMOS Tinto nanoscale MOSFET structures heretofore not thought possible. A cautious optimism is emerging that these new technologies may extend MOSFETs to the 22-nm node (9-nm physical gate length) by 2016 if not by the end of this decade. These new devices likely will feature several new materials cleverly incorporated into new nonbulk MOSFET structures. They will be ultra fast and dense with a voracious appetite for power. Intrinsic device speeds may be more than 1 THz and integration densities will exceed 1 billion transistors per cm2. Excessive power consumption, however, will demand judicious use of these high-performance devices only in those critical paths requiring their su- perior performance. Two or perhaps three other lower performance, more power-efficient MOSFETs will likely be used to perform less performance-criti- cal functions on the chip to manage the total power consumption. Beyond CMOS, several completely new approaches to information-process- ing and data-storage technologies and architectures are emerging to address the timeframe beyond the current roadmap. Rather than vying to “replace” CMOS, one or more of these embryonic paradigms, when combined with a CMOS plat- form, could extend microelectronics to new applications domains currently not accessible to CMOS. A successful new information-processing paradigm most likely will require a new platform technology embodying a fabric of intercon- nected primitive logic cells, perhaps in three dimensions.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents Schedule-at-a-Glance . 2 FiO + LS Chairs’ Welcome Letters . 3 General Information . 5 Conference Materials Access to Technical Digest Papers . 7 FiO + LS Conference App . 7 Plenary Session/Visionary Speakers . 8 Science & Industry Showcase Theater Programming . 12 Networking Area Programming . 12 Participating Companies . 14 OSA Member Zone . 15 Special Events . 16 Awards, Honors and Special Recognitions FiO + LS Awards Ceremony & Reception . 19 OSA Awards and Honors . 19 2019 APS/Division of Laser Science Awards and Honors . 21 2019 OSA Foundation Fellowship, Scholarships and Special Recognitions . 21 2019 OSA Awards and Medals . 22 OSA Foundation FiO Grants, Prizes and Scholarships . 23 OSA Senior Members . 24 FiO + LS Committees . 27 Explanation of Session Codes . 28 FiO + LS Agenda of Sessions . 29 FiO + LS Abstracts . 34 Key to Authors and Presiders . 94 Program updates and changes may be found on the Conference Program Update Sheet distributed in the attendee registration bags, and check the Conference App for regular updates . OSA and APS/DLS thank the following sponsors for their generous support of this meeting: FiO + LS 2019 • 15–19 September 2019 1 Conference Schedule-at-a-Glance Note: Dates and times are subject to change. Check the conference app for regular updates. All times reflect EDT. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 15 September 16 September 17 September 18 September 19 September GENERAL Registration 07:00–17:00 07:00–17:00 07:30–18:00 07:30–17:30 07:30–11:00 Coffee Breaks 10:00–10:30 10:00–10:30 10:00–10:30 10:00–10:30 10:00–10:30 15:30–16:00 15:30–16:00 13:30–14:00 13:30–14:00 PROGRAMMING Technical Sessions 08:00–18:00 08:00–18:00 08:00–10:00 08:00–10:00 08:00–12:30 15:30–17:00 15:30–18:30 Visionary Speakers 09:15–10:00 09:15–10:00 09:15–10:00 09:15–10:00 LS Symposium on Undergraduate 12:00–18:00 Research Postdeadline Paper Sessions 17:15–18:15 SCIENCE & INDUSTRY SHOWCASE Science & Industry Showcase 10:00–15:30 10:00–15:30 See page 12 for complete schedule of programs .
    [Show full text]
  • Photonic Computing by Smit Patel What Is Photonic Computing?
    PHOTONIC COMPUTING BY SMIT PATEL WHAT IS PHOTONIC COMPUTING? • Optical Computing • Photonic computers perform its computations with photons or IR beams as opposed to electron-based computation which are seen in the traditional computers. • Two types: Pure Optical Computers & Electro-Optical Hybrid ELECTRO-OPTICAL HYBRID • Use optical fibers and electric parts to read and direct data from the processor Light pulses send information instead of voltage packets. • Processors change from binary code to light pulses using lasers. • Information is then detected and decoded electronically back into binary. OPTICAL TRANSISTORS • Transistors based off the Fabry-Perot Interferometer. • Constructive interference yields a high intensity (a 1 in binary) • Destructive interference yields an intensity close to zero (a 0 in binary) HOLOGRAPHIC MEMORY • A holographic memory can store data in the form of a hologram within a crystal. • A laser is split into a reference beam and a signal beam. • Signal beam goes through the logic gate and receives information • The two beams then meet up again and interference pattern creates a hologram in the crystal. HOLOGRAPHIC MEMORY OPTICAL FIBERS • Small in size • Low transmission losses • No interference from radio frequencies, electromagnetic components, or crosstalk • Safer • More secure • Environmental immunity OPTICAL FIBERS PROS • Small size • Increased speed • Low heating • Reconfigurable • Scalable for larger or small networks • More complex functions done faster Applications for Artificial Intelligence • Less power consumption (500 microwatts per interconnect length vs. 10 mW for electrical) LIMITS OF PHOTONIC COMPUTING • Optical fibers on a chip are wider than electrical traces. • Crystals need 1mm of length and are much larger than current transistors • Software needed to design and run the computers.
    [Show full text]
  • Non-Boolean Computing with Spintronic Devices
    Full text available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/1000000046 Non-Boolean Computing with Spintronic Devices Kawsher A. Roxy University of South Florida [email protected] Sanjukta Bhanja University of South Florida [email protected] Boston — Delft Full text available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/1000000046 Foundations and Trends R in Electronic Design Automation Published, sold and distributed by: now Publishers Inc. PO Box 1024 Hanover, MA 02339 United States Tel. +1-781-985-4510 www.nowpublishers.com [email protected] Outside North America: now Publishers Inc. PO Box 179 2600 AD Delft The Netherlands Tel. +31-6-51115274 The preferred citation for this publication is K. A. Roxy and S. Bhanja. Non-Boolean Computing with Spintronic Devices. Foundations and Trends R in Electronic Design Automation, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 1–124, 2018. R This Foundations and Trends issue was typeset in LATEX using a class file designed by Neal Parikh. Printed on acid-free paper. ISBN: 978-1-68083-362-1 c 2018 K. A. Roxy and S. Bhanja All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publishers. Photocopying. In the USA: This journal is registered at the Copyright Clearance Cen- ter, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by now Publishers Inc for users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC).
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 8 Photonic Neuromorphic Signal Processing and Computing
    Chapter 8 Photonic Neuromorphic Signal Processing and Computing Alexander N. Tait, Mitchell A. Nahmias, Yue Tian, Bhavin J. Shastri and Paul R. Prucnal Abstract There has been a recent explosion of interest in spiking neural networks (SNNs), which code information as spikes or events in time. Spike encoding is widely accepted as the information medium underlying the brain, but it has also inspired a new generation of neuromorphic hardware. Although electronics can match biologi- cal time scales and exceed them, they eventually reach a bandwidth fan-in trade-off. An alternative platform is photonics, which could process highly interactive infor- mation at speeds that electronics could never reach. Correspondingly, processing techniques inspired by biology could compensate for many of the shortcomings that bar digital photonic computing from feasibility, including high defect rates and signal control problems. We summarize properties of photonic spike processing and ini- tial experiments with discrete components. A technique for mapping this paradigm to scalable, integrated laser devices is explored and simulated in small networks. This approach promises to wed the advantageous aspects of both photonic physics and unconventional computing systems. Further development could allow for fully scalable photonic networks that would open up a new domain of ultrafast, robust, and adaptive processing. Applications of this technology ranging from nanosecond response control systems to fast cognitive radio could potentially revitalize special- ized photonic computing. 8.1 Introduction The brain, unlike the von Neumann processors found in conventional computers, is very power efficient, extremely effective at certain computing tasks, and highly adaptable to novel situations and environments. While these favorable properties are often largely credited to the unique connectionism of biological nervous systems, it is A.
    [Show full text]
  • Optical Computing on Silicon-On-Insulator-Based Photonic Integrated Circuits
    Optical Computing on Silicon-on-Insulator-Based Photonic Integrated Circuits Zheng Zhao1, Zheng Wang2, Zhoufeng Ying1, Shounak Dhar1, Ray T. Chen1; 2, and David Z. Pan1 1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Texas at Austin 2Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Austin [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT ing paradigms, logic functions and matrix multiplication, The advancement of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) both of which can be realized in SOI-based PIC. The ad- brings the possibility to accomplish on-chip optical in- vantages and limitations are also studied. The paper is terconnects and computations. Optical computing, as a concluded in Section4. promising alternative to traditional CMOS computing, has great potential advantages of ultra-high speed and low- 2. OPTICAL COMPUTING COMPONENTS power in information processing and communications. In In this section, we introduce the common SOI-based op- this paper, we survey the current research efforts on opti- tical components that demonstrate computing capabilities cal computing demonstrated on silicon-on-insulator-based as well as their working principles. PICs. The advantages, limitations, and possible research directions for further investigation are discussed. 2.1 Mach-Zehnder Interferometer The Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is a common 1. INTRODUCTION integrated photonic device used as electro-optic modula- tors and switches. In the 2 × 2 MZI in Figure 1a, the Optical computing is to use optical systems to perform lights from input ports a, b go into a splitter, traveling numerical computations [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Myths and Truths About Optical Phase Change Materials: a Perspective
    Myths and truths about optical phase change materials: A perspective Cite as: Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 210501 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0054114 Submitted: 14 April 2021 . Accepted: 11 May 2021 . Published Online: 26 May 2021 Yifei Zhang, Carlos Ríos, Mikhail Y. Shalaginov, Mo Li, Arka Majumdar, Tian Gu, and Juejun Hu ARTICLES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN Perspective on the future of silicon photonics and electronics Applied Physics Letters 118, 220501 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0050117 Enhanced light-matter interactions at photonic magic-angle topological transitions Applied Physics Letters 118, 211101 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0052580 Ultrawide bandgap semiconductors Applied Physics Letters 118, 200401 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0055292 Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 210501 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0054114 118, 210501 © 2021 Author(s). Applied Physics Letters PERSPECTIVE scitation.org/journal/apl Myths and truths about optical phase change materials: A perspective Cite as: Appl. Phys. Lett. 118, 210501 (2021); doi: 10.1063/5.0054114 Submitted: 14 April 2021 . Accepted: 11 May 2021 . Published Online: 26 May 2021 Yifei Zhang,1 Carlos Rıos,1 Mikhail Y. Shalaginov,1 Mo Li,2,3 Arka Majumdar,2,3 Tian Gu,1,4,a) and Juejun Hu1,4,a) AFFILIATIONS 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA 3Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA 4Materials Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected] and [email protected] ABSTRACT Uniquely furnishing giant and nonvolatile modulation of optical properties and chalcogenide phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as a promising material to transform integrated photonics and free-space optics alike.
    [Show full text]