Optical parametrons

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with these and many other objects, the subject invention provides for an optical parametric oscillator capable of performing logic operations in a digital computer.
More particularly, the logic gate of the subject invention includes an optical resonant cavity having nonlinear optical characteristics.
A pump frequency supply means is connected to the cavity and supplies an optical input having a frequency 2f.
The resonant cavity is constructed such that when the supplied pump signal reaches a sufficient power level, the cavity will generate a subharmonic output signal having a steady oscillation at a frequency f, phase locked to the input pump frequency.
As with all subharmonic parametric oscillators, two possible subharmonic phases are possible for the output signal which differ by .
pi.
radians to one another.
These phases can be used to represent binary 1 and 0, respectively.
The optical parametric gate further includes a bias input which supplies a reference signal having a frequency f.
The phase of the bias input signal effects the phase of the output subharmonic from the cavity.
As discussed more fully hereinbelow, the power level of the bias input signal is adjusted to reflect the type of gate logic desired.
Optical input signals carrying binary information are also supplied to the gate.
The information input signals and the bias input signal are effectively summed to produce a resultant input signal.
The phase of the resultant signal acts as a seed or nucleus for controlling the phase of the output subharmonic.
The output subharmonic can be used as the input for downstream gates.
The subject disclosure also includes a plurality of proposed pump systems for use in a digital computer.
In addition, data input and output interfaces are disclosed which are adapted for use with a computer utilizing optical parametric oscillators.
Further objects and advantages of the subject invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: