Properties and applications of optical thyristors

Paul Heremans , Maarten Kuijk , Roger Vounckx , Gustaaf Borghs

The optical thyristor is a promising device for optical information processing. It combines a receiving-, transmitting- and memory function in a single device, with at the same time a considerable optical gain. We show in this paper the dynamics of differential switching, i.e., the switching of a single thyristor in an array of thyristors, and compare it to the switching of a single device. We also review the recent developments which have led to a dramatic increase of the speed and optical sensitivity of optical thyristors. Finally, we show some interesting applications which have been realized with differential switching in arrays of sensitive thyristors (5 ×5, 16 ×16 unto 32 ×64 devices), such as locating the maximum light intensity or integrated intensity of optical input patterns, and transcription of optical information from one thyristor array to another in free space.

Domaines: Articles anciens

Paul Heremans, Maarten Kuijk, Roger Vounckx, Gustaaf Borghs. Properties and applications of optical thyristors. Journal de Physique III, 1994, 4 (12), pp.2391-2404. ⟨10.1051/jp3:1994285⟩. ⟨jpa-00249271⟩