New Materials for Optical Computations. Phase 1. Feasibility Study.

High speed data processing by optical means is needed. Many hold the view that progress in optical memories and logic is determined by the availability of new photonic materials. The Phase I feasibility study concentrated on the use of certain II-VI compounds that display unusual optical properties, offering new opportunities of the realization of erasable optical memories, processors and computers. The feasibility of the erasable memory function is well documented. Optical processors and logic functions were also examined and the results to data shown that, with application of larger resources, logic functions can be developed. Much progress has been made in the erasable optical memory area. Clearly, information can be written by a visible light source, which is then retained in the form of the spatial distribution of trapped electrons. It has been demonstrated that both digital and analog information can be stored this way. Reading is accomplished by a gentle infrared beam that partially discharges the traps in the process of reconstructing the information. While each reading reduces the trapped electron density, many readings can be made and the information is easily rewritten. We have found that the material in its thin form has a speed faster than 5 nanoseconds equipment limited and the resolution is at least 0.6 micron.