Digital Optics: Architecture and Systems Requirements

Abstract
Digital optics is a technology for (i) processing, (ii) transport, and (iii) storage of optical digital information. Digital optics offers both, the high temporal bandwidth known from fiber‐communications, as well as the high connectivity and information density of optical imaging. Digital optical circuits may be constructed by cascading two‐dimensional planar arrays of optical logic gates. The connection between these arrays is performed by light beams going through the free space above a chip. The system design and the architecture have to be adapted to optics. Some requirements for optical systems and for optical logic gates will be discussed.