Design of optical logic gates using self-collimated beams in 2D photonic crystal

Abstract

Optical logic gates are elementary components for optical network and optical computing. In this paper, we propose a structure for AND, NAND, XNOR and NOR logic gates in the two dimensional photonic crystal which utilizes the dispersion based self-collimation effect. The self-collimated beam is splitted by the line defect and interfered with other self-collimated beam. This interference may be constructive or destructive based on their phase difference. This phenomenon is employed to realize all-optical logic gates. The gates are demonstrated numerically by computing electromagnetic field distribution using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The results ensure that this design can function as AND, NAND, XNOR and NOR logic gates. The size of the structure is about 10 μm × 10 μm which in turn results in an increase in the speed and all the gates are realized in the same configuration. The ON-OFF contrast ratio is about 6 dB.

Keywords

Optical computing / photonic crystal / band diagram / equifrequency contour / all-optical logic gates

References

[1] Yamamoto T., Yoshida E., Nakazawa M.. Ultrafast nonlinear optical loop mirror for demultiplexing 640 Gbit/s TDM signals. Electronics Letters, 1998, 34(10): 1013-1014.

[2] Fjelde T., Kloch A., Wolfson D., Dagens B., Coquelin A., Guillemot I., Gaborit F., Poingt F., Renaud M.. Novel scheme for simple label-swapping employing XOR logic in integrated interferometric wavelength converter. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2001, 13(7): 750-752.

[3] Wang J. P., Robinson B. S., Hamilton S. A., Ippen E. P.. Demonstration of 40 Gb/s packet routing using all optical header processing. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2006, 18(21): 2275-2277.

[4] Menezes J. W. M., Fraga W. B., Ferreira A. C., Saboia K. D. A., Filho A. F. G. F., Guimarães G. F., Sousa J. R. R., Rocha H. H. B., Sombra A. S. B.. Logic gates based in two and three-modes nonlinear optical fiber couplers. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 2007, 39(14): 1191-1206.

[5] Bogoni A., Poti L., Proietti R., Meloni G., Ponzini F., Ghelfi P.. Regenerative and reconfigurable all-optical logic gates for ultra-fast applications. Electronics Letters, 2005, 41(7): 435-436.

[6] Ahn K. H., Cao X. D., Liang Y., Barnett B. C., Chaikamnerd S., Islam M. N.. Cascadability and functionality of all-optical low-birefringent non-linear optical loop mirror: experimental demonstration. Journal of Optical Society of America B, 1997, 14(5): 1228-1236.

[7] Choi K. S., Byun Y. T., Lee S., Jhon Y. M.. All-optical OR/NOR bi-functional logic gate by using cross-gain modulation in semiconductor optical amplifiers. Journal of the Korean Physical Society, 2010, 56(4): 1093-1096.

[8] Kim J. H., Jhon Y. M., Byun Y. T., Lee S., Woo D. H., Kim S. H.. All-optical XOR gate using semiconductor optical amplifiers without additional input beam. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2002, 14(10): 1436-1438.

[9] Li Z. H., Li G. F.. Ultrahigh speed reconfigurable logic gates based on four-wave mixing in a semiconductor optical amplifier. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2006, 18(12): 1341-1343.

[10] Dorren H. J. S., Yang X. L., Mishra A. K., Li Z. G., Ju H., Waardt H., Khoe G. D., Simoyama T., Ishikawa H., Kawashima H., Hasama T.. All-optical logic based on ultrafast gain and index dynamics in a semiconductor optical amplifier. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2004, 10(5): 1079-1092.

[11] Stubkjaer K. E.. Semiconductor optical amplifier-based all-optical gates for high-speed optical processing. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2000, 6(6): 1428-1435.

[12] Yabu T., Geshiro M., Kitamura T., Nishida K., Sawa S.. All-optical logic gates containing a two-mode nonlinear waveguide. IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 2002, 38(1): 37-46.

[13] Wu Y. D.. All-optical logic gates by using multibranch waveguide structure with localized optical nonlinearity. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 2005, 11(2): 307-312.

[14] Wu Y. D., Shih T. T., Chen M. H.. New all-optical logic gates based on the local nonlinear Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Optics Express, 2008, 16(1): 248-257.

[15] Lee K. Y., Yang Y. C., Lin Y. J., Lee W. Y., Lee C. C., Wong S. H.. The designs of 4×2 encoder based on photonic crystals. Proc. SPIE (Proceedings of OSA-IEEE Asia Communications and Photonics), 2009, 7630, 76300I-1-76300I-7.

[16] Cuesta-Soto F., Martínez A., García J., Ramos F., Sanchis P., Blasco J., Martí J.. All-optical switching structure based on a photonic crystal directional coupler. Optics Express, 2004, 12(1): 161-167.

[17] Notomi M., Tanabe T., Shinya A., Kuramochi E., Taniyama H., Mitsugi S., Morita M.. Nonlinear and adiabatic control of high-Q photonic crystal nanocavities. Optics Express, 2007, 15(26): 17458-17481.

[18] Andalib P., Granpayeh N.. All-optical ultra compact photonic crystal AND gate based on nonlinear ring resonators. Journal of Optical Society of America B, 2009, 26(1): 10-16.

[19] Kim H. S., Lee T. K., Oh G. Y., Kim D. G., Choi Y. W.. Analysis of all optical logic gate based on photonic crystals multimode interference. Proc. SPIE, 2010, 7606, 76061F-1.

[20] Christina X. S., Kabilan A. P., Caroline P. E.. Ultra compact all optical logic gates using photonic band-gap materials. Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics, 2010, 5(3): 397-401.

[21] Kosaka H., Kawashima T., Tomita A., Notomi M., Tamamura T., Sato T., Kawakami S.. Self-collimating phenomena in photonic crystals. Applied Physics Letters, 1999, 74(9): 1212-1214.

[22] Zhao D. Y., Zhang J., Yao P. J., Jiang X. Y.. Photonic crystal Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on self-collimation. Applied Physics Letters, 2007, 90(23): 231114-1-231114-3.