REAL-TIME INCOHERENT OPTICAL-PATTERN RECOGNITION WITH PHOTOREFRACTIVECRYSTALS

Incoherent optical pattern recognition has been demonstrated with a si mple setup using photorefractive BaTiO3 crystals. The input patterns t o be identified can be transmitted into the system with completely inc oherent (both temporal and spatial) light. The setup does not require prefabricated filters for its operation and is thus a real-rime system . The working principles of the system involve the photorefractive bea m fanning effect and degenerate four-wave mixing.