Perspective nonlinear materials for all-optical fast switching and logic gates

摘要

In this paper, the physical principles of designing element bases for optical high-speed computers are considered. The requirements for optical logic gates are analyzed, and analysis of the physical mechanisms of nonlinearities in different nonlinear mediums is carried out. The following parameters are selected as necessary criteria: (1) the capability of nonlinear medium for operating at the room temperature; (2) possibly small magnitude of the fast response time or relaxation time; and (3) the largest magnitude of nonlinear refraction index. In particular, we discuss the properties of semiconductors with lower quantum dimension, the properties of composites, containing metallic particles, and those of the structures with organic compounds.