ELECTROHOLOGRAPHIC NEURONS IMPLEMENTED ON POTASSIUM LITHIUM TANTALATENIOBATE CRYSTALS

We describe a new approach for constructing large-scale artificial neu ral networks. The novelty of our approach is based on the concept of e lectroholography (EH), which permits interconnecting of electronic neu rons by minute-volume holograms, using the voltage-controlled photoref ractive effect in paraelectric crystals. Crystals of potassium lithium tantalate niobate (KLTN) in the paraelectric phase are shown to be su itable for implementing this concept. A small network composed of two KLTN crystals on which holographic connections are recorded is present ed to demonstrate the EH approach. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America