Binary optical switch and programmable optical logic gate based on the integration of GaAs/AlGaAs surface-emitting lasers and heterojunction phototransistors

Abstract

Optical switches based on GaAs/AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and heterojunction phototransistors are combined monolithically into new switching configurations that perform optical logic and spatial routing in a dynamically programmable manner. Using simple voltage control, many different logic and routing configurations, including AND and OR gates with variable fan-out, can be implemented using the same hardware.