Discrete correlation processor as a building core of a digital optical computing system: architecture and optoelectronic embodiment

In this paper we present a general-purpose discrete correlation processor ( DCP) expected to be the building core block of a digital optical computing system. The DCP-1 is embodied by optoelectronic devices such as a VCSEL and a complementary metal-oxide silicon photodetector. The application targets of the DCP-1 are optical interconnection and various types of digital opti cal computing. It is expected that digital optical computing techniques cou pled with the optoelectronic technology will provide large capability and f lexibility in information processing. Introduction of a processing scheme o f optical array logic enlarges the applicable field of the DCP-1 as well as its processing capability. With the experimental DCP-1 a bit error rate sm aller than 10(-9) was obtained for A.B operation under a 500-kHz clock rate . (C) 1999 Optical. Society of America.