Polarization-based optical parallel logic gate utilizing ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

We describe parallel optical XOR and XNOR logic gates implemented with ferroelectric liquid-crystal (FLC) electro-optic elements to yield naturally a logic in which the binary gate outputs are indicated by two orthogonal polarizations of transmitted light. These gates absorb no power from the incident light beam and hence can be cascaded without the need to regenerate NOT inputs. The FLC elements also confer the advantages of low-voltage, low-power, submicrosecond switching and intrinsic two-state memory. Experimental results demonstrating the XOR and XNOR function are presented, along with measurements of the percentage of polarized light rotated into the two binary states.